'Barrier' to care? Insurance company denies claim because prescriber was nurse practitioner

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A Colwood couple believes insurers should update their policies to better reflect the availability of medical services to British Columbians.

A Colwood couple considers themselves fortunate that in the middle of a family-doctor shortage they were able to become the patients of a nurse practitioner. But now, they’re shocked to find their insurance company won’t cover an orthotics bill because it wasn’t prescribed by a physician.

Like many people, to get around, Andrea needs orthotics. They help with the osteoarthritis in her left hip by evening out her gait. After paying $500 for them after being seen by a nurse practitioner at an urgent care center on the Westshore, she submitted the expense to her insurer Canada Life. To her surprise, the insurance company is refusing to pay up.

Andrea and her husband Robert Brown believe that given the current lack of doctors, insurers should update their policies to better reflect the availability of medical services to British Columbians. “We encourage all insurance companies in the province to recognize nurse practitioners’ ability to prescribe, in order to connect more people with the care and services they need,” the ministry said.

 

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