Re: Orthognathic surgeryIn article <tmjiatroepidemic-D3E138.09052404042008@news.west.cox,net >,
The Webby <tmjiatroepidemic@cox,net > wrote:
> In article
> <0ee59377-2a32-49eb-91b2-8f2b6ab2fdea@m71g2000hse.googlegroups,com >,
> tonysirico@gmail,com wrote:
>
> > I've been denied coverage as orthognathic surgery doesn't seem to be
> > covered by the plan I have with my HMO. Does anyone know any company
> > that finances these kind of procedures?
>
> Has your surgeon given you a complete informed consent yet? If so, have
> you asked your HMO if any of the risks happen to you, will they cover
> the expenses involved?
>
> Webby
Hello tonysirico,
We tend to accept as a "truth" that most of the time, most of the people
who undergo non-emergency surgeries (often referred to as "elective
surgery" with various definitions) come out okay. Most of the time,
they recover from the surgery and life picks up more or less where they
left off.
But sometimes, complications occur. Complications can fall into
categories of expected and unexpected. Complications can be relatively
insignificant or they can be catastrophic. No one holds the crystal
ball. But with every procedure done, there exists some known risks and
potential complications. At the very least, a person agreeing to
undergo surgery (or the person giving the consent for the patient, such
as a parent for a child) should realize that those known risks and
complications do happen and no matter how "rarely" they occur, if it
happens to *you*, it may as well be 100% of the time.
If your insurance specifically does not cover a particular surgical
procedure, you need to seriously consider how much additional money you
might need to borrow in order to pay for the expenses that might come up
if those adversities should knock on your door. I'm not trying to scare
you; I'm just trying to open your eyes if no one has done that for you
yet.
Aside from the financial risks, you should thoroughly consider the
"risks and complications" as your surgeon/doctors put them to you and
ask yourself the tough question: If any of those things happen to me,
is this surgery worth that risk?
To be perfectly honest with you, I think that orthognathic surgery has
its place. I also think that surgeons minimize the material nature of
the risks.
Good luck to you.
Webby