FTM's and Transitioning

[theoddz]

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

My top surgery date is May 4th. *happy dance*

Hey, you know what??? That's the anniversary of my top surgery, back in 2009!!!

One of these days, we should get together on that date and celebrate together!!!

Good luck to you, Drew!!!! I hope your experience is as wonderful as mine was!!!

Keep us posted, willya???

~Theo~

[DapperButch]

Hey, Linus, is the issue that you want to go with someone "in network", or do you not have out of network benefits with your insruance?

If you don't find this woman to have enough experience and you do have out of network benefits, maybe it would be worth the percent you will have to pay for the surgery (and deductible, if that is how your insurance works).

Even if this Dr. V won't bill the insurance for you, I don't see why he wouldn't give you a paper saying what work you got done. he should provide you with a receipt and this should include diagnosis and ICD-9 code. Then you could just sumbit it to your insurance, yourself.

I have an out of network physician that I pay up front and then he give me a receipt that I send to my insurance company. They have a form specifically for it. I have to make sure I have the doc's Tax ID number on it and license number. I send in the form and receipts and get back a percentage that I paid.

If you do not have out of network benefits and your company does offer them (usually a more expensive health care plan than the regular HMO one/EPO one), if your years renewal isn't too far way, maybe you want to wait until then and make sure you sign up for a plan that has the out of network benefits (that of course will still pay for SRS).

Anyway, just a thought!

[Linus]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

Hey, Linus, is the issue that you want to go with someone "in network", or do you not have out of network benefits with your insruance?

If you don't find this woman to have enough experience and you do have out of network benefits, maybe it would be worth the percent you will have to pay for the surgery (and deductible, if that is how your insurance works).

Even if this Dr. V won't bill the insurance for you, I don't see why he wouldn't give you a paper saying what work you got done. he should provide you with a receipt and this should include diagnosis and ICD-9 code. Then you could just sumbit it to your insurance, yourself.

I have an out of network physician that I pay up front and then he give me a receipt that I send to my insurance company. They have a form specifically for it. I have to make sure I have the doc's Tax ID number on it and license number. I send in the form and receipts and get back a percentage that I paid.

If you do not have out of network benefits and your company does offer them (usually a more expensive health care plan than the regular HMO one/EPO one), if your years renewal isn't too far way, maybe you want to wait until then and make sure you sign up for a plan that has the out of network benefits (that of course will still pay for SRS).

Anyway, just a thought!

It's the paying up-front part that is the challenge. I can cover out of network but it's the initial amount: 10K. I can cash in some stocks to do it or some of my 401K but I want to avoid that. I've been trying to pay down some debt (from my move and other things) but it's been a bit of a hard slog. I'm waiting until after taxes to see if I get anything back from last year (thanks to the move). I might be able to figure something out.

[atomiczombie]

Originally Posted by Linus

It's the paying up-front part that is the challenge. I can cover out of network but it's the initial amount: 10K. I can cash in some stocks to do it or some of my 401K but I want to avoid that. I've been trying to pay down some debt (from my move and other things) but it's been a bit of a hard slog. I'm waiting until after taxes to see if I get anything back from last year (thanks to the move). I might be able to figure something out.

Wow 10k dollars, that's a lot of dough. My surgery will cost 8k. Wonder why the difference.

[Linus]

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

Wow 10k dollars, that's a lot of dough. My surgery will cost 8k. Wonder why the difference.

I always assume a higher cost. Either way, whether 8 or 10 thousand, it's still a lot of money.

[theoddz]

Originally Posted by Linus

I always assume a higher cost. Either way, whether 8 or 10 thousand, it's still a lot of money.

You know, when I had my surgery, Dr. V quoted me $7750 for everything. That was HIS charge (including surgery, anesthesia, meds and followups), which I thought was very reasonable and I still do. But, by the time I figured up the travel expenses from here (Las Vegas) to Newport Beach, CA, plus lodging in a nice facility (I'm a bit of a hotel snob, but for this I was also willing to pay more for the comfort and convenience to Dr. V's office), meals and various other comfort expenses, it came out pretty close to $10K. Plus, L was with me, thank Jeebuz, and she's a trained and experienced paramedic/EMT.

Oh, and I was able to totally deduct ALL of these expenses, including the surgery, off on my taxes at the end of the year, so I got a lot of that $10K back. I would heartily recommend figuring *high* on your budget, just to be on the safe side. This is something that you must plan for, even if you have to save a little longer for, because you can't put a "price" on a job done well and/or being in a comfortable environment, post op.

The hotel where L and I stayed (The Ayres Hotel www.ayreshotels.com/costamesa/) was definitely one of the most comfortable hotels I have ever stayed in, and L and I had one of the suites. We stayed 4 nights there, until Dr. V cleared me to return to Vegas. It was a very pleasant and comfortable experience, and I guess this is why I so highly recommend Dr. Voloshin for top surgery. His office and staff is second to none!! And no, I'm not getting any kind of "bonus" for referring other guys to him. He may give YOU a bit of a break for mentioning my name, tho. One of my buddies here in Vegas (Caidyn) referred me to him and he gave me the same price as he did for Caidyn, so that helped. I think there is power in our referrals, both service and sometimes, pricewise. We should use the strength of our friendships and referrals to help each other, whenever possible, I think. We're all in this together and every bit helps!!!!

~Theo~

[Linus]

Oh, I agree Theo. But I also believe in checking out what's around and what might be coverable by network. If this surgeon proves to be capable and supportive, then it may be to my benefit as well as a benefit to the community as a whole (more surgeons who can do this and do it well so we do not limit ourselves to a select few).

I won't make my final decision until I've checked everything out, which is why I asking for advice for more questions (to be thorough). I would be just as thorough with Dr. V or even Dr. Brownstein. I haven't excluded Dr. V yet; just haven't heard back from my first email query so I'll have to book a consult later in the month (my back being screwed up limits travel for me a bit)

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Linus

It's the paying up-front part that is the challenge. I can cover out of network but it's the initial amount: 10K. I can cash in some stocks to do it or some of my 401K but I want to avoid that. I've been trying to pay down some debt (from my move and other things) but it's been a bit of a hard slog. I'm waiting until after taxes to see if I get anything back from last year (thanks to the move). I might be able to figure something out.

Yes, I understand this Linus, I didn't even think about the up front cost..duh!

And yes, try to stay away from taking from that 401K! In the long run it will actually cost you a heck of a lot due to penalties, but ALSO of course the money that you would be making it if was still in there. If you have to go that route so, I would look to see if your work would let you qualify to get a loan from the 401K, not a "withdrawal" (that may be a long shot, though)

Sounds like you are indicating that you have a separate stocks in some account. I personally would take from that and then when you get money back from the insurance, buy back into the market.

Ok, so I am probably telling you things you already know!

With that said, I think sometimes it comes down emotional and psychological level. Sometimes what we need emotionally and psychologically outweighs what we would like our financial situation to look like (not taking money from 401k, for example).

Good luck with your decision making.

[Rufusboi]

Has anyone on here heard of Dr. Charles Garramone in Florida.

Rufus

[Thinker]

Originally Posted by Rufusboi

Has anyone on here heard of Dr. Charles Garramone in Florida.

Rufus

I've heard of him quite a bit, Rufus. I have only ever heard stellar reports too!

http://www.youtube.com/user/drgarramone

[Linus]

Originally Posted by Rufusboi

Has anyone on here heard of Dr. Charles Garramone in Florida.

Rufus

I'll second what Thinker said. He's cheaper than most (when talking just surgery costs -- not including things like flight, hotel, etc.) On a lot of the transsexual/gender boards I've noticed he's extremely popular with FTMs along the East Coast and I don't think I've seen a complaint yet about his work.