The Insurance Decision

August 19, 2010

I mailed back the paperwork I got at the seminar a few days later. The response was almost immediate. The surgeon's receptionist called and told me that AETNA had denied my appeal. I tried to get approval on my own at first but had held out hope that the medical staff had some secret language or handshake that would unfreeze the cold-dead hearts of my insurance benfits reps. Apparently not.

She told me I could consider doing it as a self-pay patient. The hospital has a financing plan that approves everyone (with 30% down) and gives you five years repayment time with prime plus 6% or no interest if paid in 1 year. She encouraged me to consider it and told me the next step would be a psych consult if I decided to proceed. I told her it was a lot to process and I'd let her know.

I thought it over for a week or so and vaccillated like a mad woman. My mother and friends convinced me to see the therapist, talk about it some more and not make my mind up just yet. Since my insurance covered the psych visit, I figured what the hell... :thumbup: