Botox billed as "surgery"?
Hello all,
I have been receiving botox treatments since 2019, and it has proven to be the most effective treatment for my condition. I also use Nurtec as a rescue medication. The two combined together have given me my life back.
My first insurance provider, Emblem Health, billed the botox treatment as a specialist visit--$30 copay. I changed jobs and my new insurance, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, billed the botox treatment as surgery--$150 copay. My neurologist's office confirmed they are using all the same billing codes (64615). I have written to Horizon asking them to appeal and reclassify the charge but have not heard back yet. (We're on day 20 of their 60 day limit). I canceled my last botox appointment because I could not afford another "surgery" copay.
I am about to start a new job and the only insurance they offer is Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. I am worried I will have to pay for "surgery" 4 times a year.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Either specifically with Horizon or another insurance company? Any advice?
Thank you in advance!
Oh man
, that sounds incredibly frustrating! Insurance complications are so challenging and annoying. Hopefully anyone with experience or advice can chime in for you here. My best advice would be to keep reaching out to the insurance provider (be the squeaky wheel). Sometimes they need to know that you won't give up. Is there anyone at your doctor office who could also contact them on your behalf? It's possible that if the doctor (or doctor office) gets involved the insurance company might move a little faster as well. I'm so sorry you're going through this! -- Warmly, Christine (Team Member) 
Hi. Just checking in -- have you gotten any more answers about this? It seems strange to me that it would be billed this way, and I hope you can get it straightened out. -Melissa, team member
