Re: out-of-pocket expenses

[Guest guest]

The National Silicone Implant Foundation is a 501©(3) Nonprofit

Organization

" Supporting Survivors of Medical Implant Devices "

TX Non-Profit Charter #01388101-01

Tax Exemption # 75-2638333

We will pay all filing expenses for any others to form an NSIF chapter in

any of the 50 states. All you must do is to set up a chapter, and maintain

a paid membership of 10 members for at least 12 months. You may set up your

own chapter By-Laws and we will file those for approval in your state --

they cannot conflict with our national By-Laws, which is no problem.

All these filings cost a lot of money, so we must be assured the chapter

will continue to function beyond the first year, for us to file in other

states. Someone was working on Las Vegas & Florida a few months ago, and I

cannot tell you the actual status today. I had to take off nearly 3 months

for leg surgery!

Please let me hear if you all want additional information. We have done

T-Shirts once, and several books, etc. Always open for new ideas!

Blessings,

MM / NSIF

Martha Murdock, Director

National Silicone Implant Foundation

Dallas, Texas Headquarters

-----Original Message-----

From: Peggy Allgauer-Eckl <allgauer-eckl@...>

< >

Date: Wednesday, January 31, 2001 6:52 PM

Subject: out-of-pocket expenses

>Hi Jackie & all:

>

>I couldn't wait to try & fight with insurance companies, etc. So, I paid

for

>my surgery out of pocket. Now, I'll see about trying to get the insurance

>company to reimburse me. At least partially. The doctor's fees totaled

>$4,500 for both the explantation and the lift. I thought that was very

>reasonable. The hospital fees totaled $1,850. We took $3,000 out of our

>savings account (we were saving it to move this summer) and put the rest on

>2 different credit cards. One was paid off, but now has the hospital bill

>for a balance. The other was already mostly charged up & is now almost

maxed

>out. I felt GUILTY about depleting our money this way, but I just felt now

>was the time. Luckily, my husband was very supportive. Now, we're doubling

>up on the credit card payments and also trying to get the money back in

>savings before summer. I think we have $900 left in savings - so it will be

>a long haul.

>

>Having said all that, I am very, very pleased I went ahead with my

surgery -

>whether or not the insurance company will ever reimburse me for any of it.

>

>Also, my PS's office has a bank they deal with that offers loans - which

>would be cheaper than a credit card. And if I actually worked for the

>company I temp for (I've been there a year this time, and a year ago I was

>there for another year.....), I could have gotten a small loan from them to

>pay the doctor.

>

>Like I mentioned before, now that they're OUT, I feel I can tackle

insurance

>companies, manufacturers, whoever. Of course, I also feel thankful that

that

>part of my life is behind me and that might just convince me to start on a

>new course & let the implants float on that polluted river of my

mind.......

>giggle.

>

>So, I say if you can swing it, pay for it yourself just so you'll feel

>better! Get a head start on being healthy! G

>

>I know it wouldn't be easy, but has this list ever thought of becoming a

>non-profit where we could send " dues " or just whatever we wanted to donate

>toward those of us who can't afford surgery - or just need a little help to

>get it covered? We could even get T-shirts; I survived implants or

>something. We could sell the T's for a profit to offset someone's surgery.

>We could do up a website, too. And we could even go so far as to put some

of

>us up if we have to travel to another town/state for our surgery! Or at

>least some hotel help. Or invite the family over for meals so they wouldn't

>have to eat Mc's all the time. I know if anyone wants to come here

for

>their surgery, I'd certainly help out any way I could. I live in a mobile

>home, but I can provide meals at least!

>

>There must be some way to start a fund for women who can't afford this

>surgery - it's just not that expensive! And, my doc did remove mine en bloc

>-- he did everything " correct " even if he doesn't feel the silicone/saline

>causes problems. I bet if he saw a few more women, he'd change his tune &

>would be a wonderful advocate for us.

>

>I for one would LOVE a T-shirt proclaiming my freedom from implants!

>

>Did anyone see on Oprah today? She was plugging her

>Brockovich movie - joking how said it took a city to make those

>boobs stick out like that. She said she's an average 34B and that just goes

>to prove you don't need plastic surgery!!!! I was SO happy to hear that.

She

>didn't make an issue out of it, but she said it out loud & I hope everyone

>was listening.

>

>cy'all,

>chatty peg...... giggle

>(Can you tell I'm happy??!!!!)

>

>

>