$$$ for a tympanoplasty, with mastoidectomy surgery

[Guest guest]

Hi Everybody:

Well, well, this is a really good subject to have out in the open.---Insurance

My surgery cost around $10K for the first one (ear) and about 100K for the second one (brain/ear)

I had Tympanoplasty, Radical Mastoidectomy and then Craniectomy with Cholesteatoma removal with a graft from my temple to make a hammock for my brain where the choleteatoma had eaten away at my bone covering over the brain.

I'm the poster child for making sure that the surgery gets done ASAP.

It only gets expensive later, if you don't hop on it.

We were out 168 THOUSAND dollars when all was said and done, and mind you, that was the COPAY.

Blue Cross paid the first surgery, but they would not pay the second one, because the ear surgeon (in plan) worked with a brain surgeon that was OUT of plan. Also, he refused to do it at a facility that wasn't prepared for brain surgery and had to have the "diamond drill" to cut open my head - transferred to another hospital (all at my expense of course). Do the paperwork ahead of time. Be careful.

I lost my house

I lost my hearing

I lost my driving ability

I lost my independence

Do not let this happen to you.

Research and get a top-notch doctor (not an ENT, but a

NEURO-OTOLOGIST) and get moving on it.

I would have been happy to pay my co-pay from 12K, if I had known I would be having brain surgery later.

after insurance pays your 70% go IN PERSON to the hospital and talk to financial counseling office.

Sometimes they will discount it heavily!!!! if you pay a large chunk of the copay right away.

- Shattuck

[Guest guest]

everything is negotiable, most poeple don't try until

they have to, soemtimes it's too late as they know

they have you.

tom hansen

--- LMShattuck@... wrote:

> Hi Everybody:

>

> Well, well, this is a really good subject to have

> out in the

> open.---Insurance

> My surgery cost around $10K for the first one (ear)

> and about 100K for the

> second one (brain/ear)

>

> I had Tympanoplasty, Radical Mastoidectomy and

> then Craniectomy with

> Cholesteatoma removal with a graft from my temple to

> make a hammock for my brain

> where the choleteatoma had eaten away at my bone

> covering over the brain.

>

> I'm the poster child for making sure that the

> surgery gets done ASAP.

> It only gets expensive later, if you don't hop on

> it.

>

> We were out 168 THOUSAND dollars when all was said

> and done, and mind you,

> that was the COPAY.

> Blue Cross paid the first surgery, but they would

> not pay the second one,

> because the ear surgeon (in plan) worked with a

> brain surgeon that was OUT of

> plan. Also, he refused to do it at a facility that

> wasn't prepared for brain

> surgery and had to have the " diamond drill " to cut

> open my head - transferred

> to another hospital (all at my expense of course).

> Do the paperwork ahead

> of time. Be careful.

>

> I lost my house

> I lost my hearing

> I lost my driving ability

> I lost my independence

>

> Do not let this happen to you.

>

> Research and get a top-notch doctor (not an ENT, but

> a

> NEURO-OTOLOGIST) and get moving on it.

> I would have been happy to pay my co-pay from 12K,

> if I had known I would be

> having brain surgery later.

> after insurance pays your 70% go IN PERSON to the

> hospital and talk to

> financial counseling office.

> Sometimes they will discount it heavily!!!! if you

> pay a large chunk of the

> copay right away.

>

> - Shattuck

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

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[Guest guest]

I just had the surgery done to check for regrowth and attempt the reconstruction. Hospital bill and anesthesia was almost $20k. I have anthem insurance and owed about $700 total.

Re: $$$ for a tympanoplasty, with mastoidectomy surgery

everything is negotiable, most poeple don't try untilthey have to, soemtimes it's too late as they knowthey have you. tom hansen--- LMShattuckaol wrote:> Hi Everybody:> > Well, well, this is a really good subject to have> out in the > open.---Insurance> My surgery cost around $10K for the first one (ear)> and about 100K for the > second one (brain/ear)> > I had Tympanoplasty, Radical Mastoidectomy and> then Craniectomy with > Cholesteatoma removal with a graft from my temple to> make a hammock for my brain > where the choleteatoma had eaten away at my bone> covering over the brain.> > I'm the poster child for making sure that the> surgery gets done ASAP.> It only gets expensive later, if you don't hop on> it.> > We were out 168 THOUSAND dollars when all was said> and done, and mind you, > that was the COPAY.> Blue Cross paid the first surgery, but they would> not pay the second one, > because the ear surgeon (in plan) worked with a> brain surgeon that was OUT of > plan. Also, he refused to do it at a facility that> wasn't prepared for brain > surgery and had to have the "diamond drill" to cut> open my head - transferred > to another hospital (all at my expense of course). > Do the paperwork ahead > of time. Be careful.> > I lost my house> I lost my hearing> I lost my driving ability> I lost my independence> > Do not let this happen to you. > > Research and get a top-notch doctor (not an ENT, but> a > NEURO-OTOLOGIST) and get moving on it.> I would have been happy to pay my co-pay from 12K,> if I had known I would be > having brain surgery later.> after insurance pays your 70% go IN PERSON to the> hospital and talk to > financial counseling office.> Sometimes they will discount it heavily!!!! if you> pay a large chunk of the > copay right away.> > - Shattuck> __________________________________________________________Have a burning question? Go to www.Answers. and get answers from real people who know.