How MUCH does this cost?

[Guest guest]

I recently saw an oral surgeon, Dr. Riley (in Palo Alto), and am

considering having

upper jaw surgery to correct my openbite/crossbite/class III.

I finally decided to go ahead with orthodontics, but I have to say, Dr. Riley's

office has not

been terribly helpful here. I called them and they wouldn't really give me any

information

and told me to call my insurance company; they are not in any insurance network.

I have coverage through a large company with BlueCross (in their PPO plan). I

asked Dr.

Riley's office if they could give me an estimate but they said they don't deal

with insurance

companies, plans, etc...although I'm SURE they must have had another patient who

had

BlueCross PPO.

All I want to know is what I will be required to pay, out of pocket, for this

surgery. I have

called BlueCross and they are almost entirely clueless---plus all I can tell

them is that I

would be having orthognathic surgery of my upper jaw. They told me to call the

doctor,

but the doctor tells me to call the insurance company. When I asked about the

hospital

fee, the person I spoke with at Dr. Riley's office told me to call the hospital.

I mean this is

really ridiculous that there is apparently 0 coordination here.

Dr. Riley (when I met with him) indicated that the gross fees for this surgery,

including his

fee + hospital fee, would most likely be upwards of $50,000 as the hospital fee

is $30,000

per day. (ridiculous, in my opinion). If I have this surgery and am stuck with

a $50,000

bill, I will not be thrilled nor financially capable of paying it.

Is there some way to streamline this process to find out (a) if the insurance

company will

cover anything, ( what they will cover, © what an approximate out of pocket

cost is?

It would be really helpful if anyone from this area (Bay Area, California) has

gone through

this with BlueCross PPO.

Thanks so much,