Re: Surgeon vs. Money Dilemma

[Guest guest]

I ask for enough advice from this site, that I feel I owe people at

least a couple true responses.

I basically had your very same dilemmas, and went with the

experienced out of network guy. In my case, the out of pocket dif

was about an extra 6,000. But to be honest, I would have meade the

same decision even if the difference had been up to $25,000.

The OON guy in my case is a Harvard trained guy who virtually

pioneered the surgery, whereas the IN guy is a very nice, and I'm

sure competent guy at the university hospital (very well respected

hospital for what it's worth) near my home.

Here's the thing. So much of this process is peace of mind. I

can't speak for everyone else here, but I hardly had ANY anxiety

about the procedure at all, because i kept telling myslef " you know

what, you've got your braces on so you can't change your mind, and

besides, you're having this performed by the " go-to " guy in the

business. If ever there was a " right way " to get something done,

this is it. I can't imagine what my head would have been like had I

constantly been questioning my decision to go with the IN guy to

save a few bucks. If money truly is the only reason you'd go with

the IN guy, then you owe it to yourself to take the OON guy if you

know that it would help ease your nerves. If there are other

considerations, i.e. geography, then maybe those have to play a role

in your decision too, but the amount of money at issue here is so

incredibly trivial compared to the peace of mind that it's buying

you.

> Big opinion based question for anybody:

>

> I have met with two surgeons, one that is in-network, and one that

is

> out-of-network (actually he doesn't take any insurance at all

> really). Through pre-certification and 2 appeals, I have been

> approved for the upper jaw for surgery (the lower jaw was denied

for

> cosmetic reasons).

>

> My big question is how you determined which surgeon to go to.

>

> The surgeon I prefer is very experienced, quite cocky actually,

but

> is very well known for this procedure. He also is the surgeon for

the

> Arizona Cardinals, Phoenix Coyotes, and Arizona Diamondbacks. But

by

> going to him, will cost me about $16,000 at least out of pocket.

>

> The in-network surgeon also has quite a bit of experience, has

been

> doing it several years. But he doesn't do as many of these

> surgeries

> as he used to. He also cannot perform the septoplasty and

> tarbimetes, which would require me to have another surgery later

on.

> But the surgeries would be covered for about $1,500.

>

> I know money makes a difference in the quality of work done. But I

> wonder if I am being overly cautious about the in-network surgeon

> that may be able to perform the surgery just as well. Anyone's

> opinion would be helpful as my fiancée doesn't seem to want to

> listen

> anymore. I think he is sick of me talking about it. FYI, I tried

> talking to my OD but he is best friends with the out-of network

> surgeon.