Submitting a PA for medical equipment before ordering? Worried about having to pay out of pocket if PA is denied.

I've been looking for hours and couldn't find an answer, so health insurance reddit it is.

I want to buy compression garments and have a doctor willing to write me a prescription. Unfortunately, I will probably need custom made compression garments and waist-high customs get around $1000. I was hoping to see if my insurance would cover it for me, and I'm pretty certain it will.

I know that, with submitted prior authorizations for medication prescriptions, the pharmacist will tell you if it's been denied and ask if you want to pay out of pocket– you aren't FORCED to pay. My concern is that, because these are custom garments I need to get through a DME company, the order will NEED to be paid for one way or another and if the PA is denied I'll be on the hook for that $1000.

Is there a way to submit a PA before actually ordering the medical equipment? Most places I read say the medical equipment company sends the PA request to the insurance after receiving the prescription, and by that point I imagine the order has already been placed. My doctor and I think this could help me a lot, but I don't have $1000 on hand to use on a pair of stockings if the PA is denied for whatever reason.

submitted by /u/scholarshithrowaway
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