out-of-pocket expenses

[Guest guest]

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??!!!!)

[Guest guest]

Hi Peggy,

What a delightful letter to read!

You sound so happy and that is good for MY soul! Thank you for sharing

those thoughts and feelings.

As for the donation idea...funny that you should bring that up, because I

had rolled that around in my mind a little bit last week or so. Just

hearing from women who are desperate to get their implants out, who have no

money to do it makes my heart ache, and I wish I could just dole out the

money so that whoever needs to get this done can get it done in a timely

manner.

However, I get stumped with the logistics of all of it. I know that Ilena's

group is a non-profit, and her organization, Humantics Foundation for Women,

has helped quite a few women remove their implants who have been very, very

ill, and very, very destitute. She has taken alot of flack from her

detractors (manufacturer's plants and others with vested interests in

implants) all the while for all her generosity, and spending her own

inheritance money to keep this support group going. She is an angel on

earth if there ever was one.

Soooo, as for the ideas you presented, I think Ilena Rosenthal would be the

first place I would direct anyone to who wishes to donate or begin a new

promotion of some sort in support of the many implant-free women who have

survived their ordeal. In the three years that I have been involved with

this issue, I have seen several ideas for support come and go, but I have

not heard much more discussion about them. I know for certain rally's and

things, some women have had T-shirts.

For anyone who wishes to contact Ilena, her e-mail address is

ilena@.... I am going to go ahead and send your letter to her Peg,

just so she will at least know about the ideas you have presented.

Here is a snip from her latest communication to the support group members:

" Dearest Support Group,

Most of you have probably heard that yesterday, I celebrated my one month

wedding anniversary. And, contrary to a rumour ... I am not pregnant! That

was the funniest thing we ever read ... our wonderful friend Lany had

posted to some friends that I was " starting a family " ~ in reality my

wonderful husband came with a 7 year old blessing. I've finally gotten

balance in my life ... and please be assured my husband is 1,000 percent

behind my work.

Never before a Mom, this Support Group has been my baby now for over 5

years.

We're getting some great attention to our issue ... come visit the

newsgroup and tell your story ... lots of people are watching it again

Look for the Total Health Magazine with my article " Breast Implants:

America's Silent Epidemic " at stores now. I've just heard from a half

dozen new women this morning all over the States, so there must have been a

new distribution. If you'd like an email version, let me know.

I'm ready to spend the next month enjoying my new family ... so I may be

less avalailable...... "

Ilena is always there for us, so even if she is less available, she is

certainly still very much involved.

Your explant and lift fees sound very much in line with what I paid. I also

had to put the balance that the insurance didn't cover on a credit card.

What an eye opener I got though, on how insurance companies and hospitals

work! When I was getting prices for out of pocket fees on the hospital, it

was in the low $1,000 range. However, when the insurance company approved

the surgery, I had no idea what they would end up paying, and when I

finally talked to the lady at my husband's employer who handled it, I was

flabbergasted! It was over $9000!!!! Sheesh, no wonder things are so

screwed up.

Keep gently working on your plastic surgeon to inform him of what is really

going on. I have given my plastic surgeon occasional updates at holidays,

by sending a card and letting him know how my healing is going, and what I

have found to be true across America. I don't want these plastic surgeons

to see only their side of the issue through rose colored glasses....they

HAVE to know women are getting ill and having to get these dangerous time

bombs out of their chests.

Thanks again for sharing, Peg. Keep up the great communications and

thoughts!

Patty

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

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

< >

Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2001 4:50 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??!!!!)

>

>

>