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JPouch Surgery costs in NYC

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Posted 5/14/2013 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hey all, I just want to get your opinion on something. I have severe UC and is considering surgery. I have met with Dr. Bauer in NYC and done all the preliminary tests. He believes I'm a good candidate for the J pouch surgery. I really like him and have heard good things about him. I want him to do the surgery. However, his staff just informed me that he doesn't participate in insurance plans (I have Aetna open access), and that I will be paying out of network costs. The quote is she give me is 31K, which is A LOT if not covered. What should I do? Cough it up (essentially depletes my savings) or try find a in-network surgeon? Thanks for the advice.
Posted 5/14/2013 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
If it were me, I would find one in Network. What happens if you have the surgery and something happens after and you need to be hospitalized or something? Do you have the money to pay those bills? I would play it safe and go to a doctor in network. If you do the out of network doctor, and you have problems later, will you have to file for bankruptcy? This is just me thinking!
Posted 5/14/2013 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
I interviewed Dr. Bauer and I liked him a lot and he's an excellent surgeon but I ended up going to Jefferson University Hosptial in Philly to have my surgeries. My surgeon is Dr. Scott Goldstein. He's awesome and I was really impressed with my post op care in the hospital. I have Aetna too and I was totally covered. Oh, and soup to nuts all my surgeries cost over 100K. This is not a surgery you want to pay out of pocket for. There are many skilled surgeons doing this procedure. Hopefully you can find someone in network. Good luck!
Posted 5/14/2013 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi baleno, I'm in NYC too, just had my j-pouch construction a couple weeks ago. I heard great things about Dr Bauer and have a friend who used him and is doing very well, but I couldn't afford to pay out of pocket so I never even had a consult. There are many great surgeons who do take insurance, though I'm not sure about Aetna specifically. At Mt Sinai I met with Dr Steinhagen who I liked very much, and my surgeon at Cornell is Dr Michelassi whom I absolutely love. I've heard great things about all of the CR surgeons at Cornell, and I believe all of them except for Milsom take some kind of insurance. Let me know if I can help in any way
Posted 5/14/2013 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. Pluto, looks like Dr. Steinhagen is in Aetna network. I'm going to call to see tomorrow if I can meet with him. Thanks a lot!
Posted 5/14/2013 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
100k??????

I need a sitdown. Wondering how much a single colectomy would cost.

Good luck with Dr. Steinhagen, or whoever.
Posted 5/14/2013 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
The hospital bill for my first surgery, which was a plain colectomy with end ileo, was about $60K. My insurance covered everything though :-)

Stick with NHS, dear...
Posted 5/14/2013 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
Liz, just sent u an email. Mine as well to ask you question here. how soon were you able to schedule an appointment with Dr. Steinhagen? is he one of those doc where you have to book months in advance?
Thanks!
Posted 5/14/2013 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
Nope, I think I got my appointment within a week or two of calling. Hard to remember now... definitely no more than three weeks because I had my surgery three weeks after I started even considering it wink
Posted 5/15/2013 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
Cough it up (essentially depletes my savings) or try find a in-network surgeon?"

No man! are you nuts?, find a way to get it paid either by insurance or government or santa. But not you, 31k...w.t.f.
Posted 5/17/2013 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
There should be tons of choices in the NYC area, but are Mayo & CC not in network either? in any case, you shoukdnt restrict yourself to local docs. I flew to and from my surgery and the flight back was no problem at all to cope with.
Posted 5/17/2013 2:50 PM (GMT 0)

Pluot said...
The hospital bill for my first surgery, which was a plain colectomy with end ileo, was about $60K. My insurance covered everything though :-)

Stick with NHS, dear...

Oh I will.

Unfortunately, the NHS has little choice in the matter. It has to stick with me <_<.

Edit: $60K is £40K at current exchange rates. Holy bells. I need another sitdown.

Post Edited (NiceCupOfTea) : 5/17/2013 8:53:44 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/19/2013 5:40 AM (GMT 0)
I recently had my surgeries with Dr Bauer and he has been great. I am a tall and skinny guy so there could have been some complications with my surgeries and he seemed to be the most competent of all the surgeons I met. I was supposed to meet Dr Steinhagen but my wife and I felt that Dr Bauer was the right guy to go with so we cancelled our consult with Dr Steinhagen.

By the way, the $31k estimate that you got is probably just the cost of the first surgery. The second one costs another $12K. I don't regret my decision as I am doing well since the surgeries, but my savings at severely depleted :(
Posted 5/22/2013 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
UCWarrior -Can I have your email so I can ask you a few question? I just had my second meeting with Dr. Bauer today. He wanted to do the surgery and I want him to do it, but money does appear to be a problem as he doesn't take my insurance (his office is still working on getting it approved). I don't have that much money laying around...:(
Posted 5/23/2013 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
Sure..my email is uroojk at gmail.com
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