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Hi there!
After months of struggling to nail down a surgeon, and being dumped by one I had chosen because he didn’t want to renew his licensing (*side eye emoji*), I finally have one. But there are some costs that were unanticipated in this journey.
Southern California does not have any orthognathic surgeons who accept medical insurance. Seriously, it’s a huge issue and I’m not alone in this mess - socal jaw surgery patients in support groups are all between a rock and a hard place with this.
Despite the medical necessity of this surgery, California surgeons have realized there is enough need for this surgery, and enough prospective patients — so they can charge $180,000 base starting costs and refuse medical insurance and they will STILL do multiple surgeries a day every week.
Due to the obvious impossibility of being able to pay that upfront cost for surgery, I was forced out of state. It cost me less to fly to Utah, get a hotel, and pay for the consult there - than it did for ONE $800+ consult in LA. It’s absurd. I have a surgeon chosen in Utah and we are moving forward with the process. However there are some cost barriers.
As of 6/10 my surgeon is no longer in network. Devastating. I have no fight left in me. I have no idea if he’ll accept out of network insurance payment rates. I only have guesses.
- $5000 out of pocket max for out of network (if he accepts its)
- $3000 for genio, which despite having medical benefit, is not covered by insurances because (enter health insurance grievances here)
- $2000 for housing to stay in Utah 3-4 weeks post op, my surgeon wants me close in case of complications especially due to having Ehlers Danlos Syndrome
- $1500 for surgical planning (I know )
- $100/hr for the office to fill out my FMLA paperwork (I know )
- Gas
- Food - since I won’t be near my community at home, a meal train isn’t really feasible.
- Covid mitigation costs, like, for example, i can’t mask post op so on the drive home I will have to find a way to pee that doesn’t involve me going unmasked into a public bathroom & that will likely cost money. Immunity suppmentation, filters, etc etc.
- Myofunctional therapy $300 consult + weekly appts
Why is this surgery medically necessary?
- Severe TMJ, lock jaw, facial pain, etc
- My lower jaw never finished forming and my bite is misaligned causing me to be unable to bite off food, chew, speak properly & degrades my quality of life
- The uneven bite causes undue pressure on my condylars / tmj joints and will eventually cause enough damage that will collapse my jaw joints and force me into total joint replacements — which is no joke and something I need to avoid
- My airway is too small, as shown in the header image. My risk of sleep apnea is high - and my dad who had the same jaw, died of sleep apnea. A small airway also worsens chronic pain I suffer due to EDS. Many people receive this surgery due to only small airway and without the additional bite issues I have. For me, both are why I need it.
- Due to my eds the jaw tension causes pulling and chronic pain in my neck, traps, and upper body
Pre braces xray:
Other ways to help:
- My wishlist of items to help me recover - this surgery is no joke and is a brutal recovery process. I still need things like 0 gravity chair so I can sleep since I won’t be able to lay down.
- Airline point / hotel point donations for pre op and post op appointments
- If you know anyone in Utah who is covid safe and will let me + 1-2 people stay there for 3-4 weeks post op. High speed wifi for my roommate who will likely have to work remotely & work space. So a back house / detached house is ideal. I’ll also need to be running a blender constantly and would probably drive someone nuts in a shared space. Also my cat will have to come with us due to prolonged time in Utah.
- Meal train once i’m back in SD. My jaw will be wired shut for at least 8 weeks.
What I’m paying / have paid already:
- Paid: 8k In orthodontics from 2 years
- Paid: 1k+ in surgeon consults & scans & MRI - one consult was $850 alone
- Paid: 2 Flights, 3 hotel nights
- Paid: $350+ for botox for clenching
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