Re: Whoo-hoo to Jim--CIGNA Paid for 75%

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

You cannot go wrong w/ Dr. De Smet.

It's abundantly clear from the many glowing testimonials posted by De

Smet hippies on this newsgroup (including my own) that the good

doctor is an outstanding surgeon. A review of the same postings will

also yield another conclusion: Dr. De Smet is a very caring person.

So, when you realize that such a talented and sensitive doctor is

available at a great price (especially compared to U.S. prices), it's

no wonder so many folks have made the journey to Belgium to be

resurfaced.

BTW, I live in the East Bay.

Finally, let me know if you have any specific questions...

Jim V.S.

LBHR, De Smet, 11/25/03

> > Wonder of Wonders! I just received a check from my insurance co.

> > (CIGNA) for my BHR claim, and—-get this—-the check covers ~75% of

> > what I paid Dr. De Smet, tdecisions I've ever made...........

> >

> > Jim V.S.

> > LBHR, De Smet, 11/25/03

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

You cannot go wrong w/ Dr. De Smet.

It's abundantly clear from the many glowing testimonials posted by De

Smet hippies on this newsgroup (including my own) that the good

doctor is an outstanding surgeon. A review of the same postings will

also yield another conclusion: Dr. De Smet is a very caring person.

So, when you realize that such a talented and sensitive doctor is

available at a great price (especially compared to U.S. prices), it's

no wonder so many folks have made the journey to Belgium to be

resurfaced.

BTW, I live in the East Bay.

Finally, let me know if you have any specific questions...

Jim V.S.

LBHR, De Smet, 11/25/03

> > Wonder of Wonders! I just received a check from my insurance co.

> > (CIGNA) for my BHR claim, and—-get this—-the check covers ~75% of

> > what I paid Dr. De Smet, tdecisions I've ever made...........

> >

> > Jim V.S.

> > LBHR, De Smet, 11/25/03

[Guest guest]

Jim - what company do you work for? Do you have CIGNA HMO

or POS or ERISA?

Did you have to go through levels of appeal?

What docs did you submit?

Did your company help?

Did they originally turn you down because of the JRI codes and

then pay because JRI returned to THR codes?

> > > Wonder of Wonders! I just received a check from my

insurance co.

> > > (CIGNA) for my BHR claim, and—-get this—-the check

covers ~75% of

> > > what I paid Dr. De Smet, tdecisions I've ever made...........

> > >

> > > Jim V.S.

> > > LBHR, De Smet, 11/25/03

[Guest guest]

Jim - what company do you work for? Do you have CIGNA HMO

or POS or ERISA?

Did you have to go through levels of appeal?

What docs did you submit?

Did your company help?

Did they originally turn you down because of the JRI codes and

then pay because JRI returned to THR codes?

> > > Wonder of Wonders! I just received a check from my

insurance co.

> > > (CIGNA) for my BHR claim, and—-get this—-the check

covers ~75% of

> > > what I paid Dr. De Smet, tdecisions I've ever made...........

> > >

> > > Jim V.S.

> > > LBHR, De Smet, 11/25/03

[Guest guest]

Jim,

I am in the middle of the insurance submission stage with JRI, also

Dr. Beaul'e, (Unicare is the insurance co.). I have a bilateral

resurface scheduled for Sept. Having received quotes from both JRI

and Dr. DeSmet, I found them to be almost the same when you throw in

the plane fare to Belgium, two in my case as my wife will be helping

out. Was this not the case with you? JRI is $25,000 total and Dr.

DeSmet is 19,000 euros or about $22,500 usd. This is for the

bilateral which is a bit more than one side. Did you go to Belgium

because of Dr. DeSmet's experience? Your input is greatly

appreciated as it is not too late for me to change doctors.

in Tahoe

> > > > Wonder of Wonders! I just received a check from my

> insurance co.

> > > > (CIGNA) for my BHR claim, and—-get this—-the check

> covers ~75% of

> > > > what I paid Dr. De Smet, tdecisions I've ever made...........

> > > >

> > > > Jim V.S.

> > > > LBHR, De Smet, 11/25/03

[Guest guest]

Jim,

I am in the middle of the insurance submission stage with JRI, also

Dr. Beaul'e, (Unicare is the insurance co.). I have a bilateral

resurface scheduled for Sept. Having received quotes from both JRI

and Dr. DeSmet, I found them to be almost the same when you throw in

the plane fare to Belgium, two in my case as my wife will be helping

out. Was this not the case with you? JRI is $25,000 total and Dr.

DeSmet is 19,000 euros or about $22,500 usd. This is for the

bilateral which is a bit more than one side. Did you go to Belgium

because of Dr. DeSmet's experience? Your input is greatly

appreciated as it is not too late for me to change doctors.

in Tahoe

> > > > Wonder of Wonders! I just received a check from my

> insurance co.

> > > > (CIGNA) for my BHR claim, and—-get this—-the check

> covers ~75% of

> > > > what I paid Dr. De Smet, tdecisions I've ever made...........

> > > >

> > > > Jim V.S.

> > > > LBHR, De Smet, 11/25/03

[Guest guest]

,

If JRI's quote is all-inclusive, then you certainly have a tougher

decision than I did. I didn't get a comprehensive quote from JRI,

but I did get the impression from my research that a JRI resurfacing

would cost almost twice as much as a Belgium BHR. (BTW, some

Surfacehippy posters have suggested that JRI has recently reduced its

prices). So, it was a very easy decision for me. I felt like I was

getting a bargain rate from an outstanding surgeon. On the other

hand, if the JRI & BHR costs had been about the same, I may not have

been as willing to pay for it myself. Instead, I probably would've

been stubborn and kept trying to wrestle a JRI pre-authorization out

of CIGNA.

As for who's the better surgeon, Dr. De Smet or Dr. Beaulé, that's

not for me to say since Dr. Beaulé did not resurface my hip. All I

can say is that my trip to Belgium was a life-changing experience.

Finally, I would simply suggest that you ensure JRI's quote includes

all costs that you may have to pay (i.e., make sure there won't be

any surprises).

Good luck.

Jim V.S.

LBHR, De Smet, 11/25/03

> Jim,

>

> I am in the middle of the insurance submission stage with JRI, also

> Dr. Beaul'e, (Unicare is the insurance co.). I have a bilateral

> resurface scheduled for Sept. Having received quotes from both JRI

> and Dr. DeSmet, I found them to be almost the same when you throw

in

> the plane fare to Belgium, two in my case as my wife will be

helping

> out. Was this not the case with you? JRI is $25,000 total and Dr.

> DeSmet is 19,000 euros or about $22,500 usd. This is for the

> bilateral which is a bit more than one side. Did you go to Belgium

> because of Dr. DeSmet's experience? Your input is greatly

> appreciated as it is not too late for me to change doctors.

>

> in Tahoe