Re: Which Insurance Plan would cover Orthognathic Surgery?

[Guest guest]

>

> In Alabama, Blue Cross has, from time to time, medical policies

which

> are available -- for a fee -- to persons who cannot get group

> coverage. There are usually certain designated sign up periods for

> them. Now what I don't know is how good they are about covering

such

> surgery as this.

>

> I see your point about pre-exisiting conditions, but I haven't

heard

> of that being cited to deny anyone. It may have happened, but I

don't

> remember it.

>

> How about this: Call a broker and tell him/her that you're looking

> for excellent dental and health insurance (but be prepared to wince

> when you get the price quote). Then ask to review a couple of

> policies, and see for yourself what they say about coverage. And I

> can't imagine that it would hurt your case to ask your general

> dentist (or the person who handles insurance claims in his office)

> which companies provide the best coverage and offer approval for

> varied procedures... That might give you some clues, anyhow.

>

> Bear in mind, too, that each policy is different. You just have to

> study the provisions. Some specifically exclude orthognathic

surgery.

>

> Cammie

Hello everyone, I am a newbie and this post/subject is SO INFORMATIVE

for me right now. I have just been told I am going to need

Orthognathic surgery to advance my upper jaw---and I do not have

medical/dental insurance coverage right now either.

I live in Birmingham, Alabama and I went for a consult one of the top

dentists in Alabama just to see how my dental work was coming along---

and to ask him about redoing my front crowns(for the third time)and

to ask him if he thought I was ready to get the four implants I will

need for my four back molar teeth.

I was floored to hear him say that he really thought I should see an

orthodontist before I got the implants & new crowns done- b/c he

thought I would need surgery to advance my upper jaw a tiny bit b/c

my teeth do not constantly meet in the front. I knew my teeth did

not slightly overlap like they are supposed to---but I NEVER thought

I would hear I needed surgery b/c my front teeth would always be

getting too much pressure, etc... I could feel the blood run out of

my face as I heard him describe the surgery and heard the words " cut

the jaw and move it forward " . EEK.

I went to the ortho appointment and prayed I would hear him say that

that I was ready to get my implants this summer like I planned and

that the most I might need from him might be a tiny amount of time in

braces---BUT, he agreed that surgery was the best option. I told him

if I did choose to do this surgery I would have to find insurance

that would pay for it. Was that a bad idea to tell him that??

He gave me a referral for the oral surgeon that did my extractions

and I was considering him to do my implants his summer. I now have

an appt for April 26 w/him for the surgery consult. I know the

members here & this board will be SO helpful if I do indeed choose to

go through with what right now still sounds like a TERRIFYING SURGERY

so THANK YOU to each of you! I know I am a big baby. At the very

least, I appreciate the doctors advising me of doing the jaw surgery

FIRST---BEFORE the implants instead of finding out after spending a

fortune on implants that surgery should have been done beforehand.

SO, that is the point I am at in this adventure----I am writing down

all the advice I find-b/c I know most of you have already been down

this road yourselves. Calling the hospital to find out which

plans people used to cover the exact surgery I will need was an

especially good tip and I am going to try that before my appointment

with my OSurgeon. I will keep everyone posted!

Thank you for any advice and encouragement you can give me!

JMarie