Appt. Private Surgeon -Med Insurance Q’s?
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19509
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Topic: Appt. Private Surgeon -Med Insurance Q’s?
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Subject: Appt. Private Surgeon -Med Insurance Q’s?
Date Posted: 27 July 2008 at 1:15pm
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I have my appointment re:tonsillectomy on Thurs, but I hadn't thought about the medical insurance side of things until now - I'm assuming I can't just rock up without proof that I actually pay for Medical insurance to go private lol - So is there some kind of form I need to ring Tower Insurance and ask for to take along with me to the appointment?
How does it all work? I didn't even think to ask how much the appointment would cost ...duh! So yeah if someone could give me some kind of insight as to how the whole process works and what i'll need to take with me - that would be fantastic! TIA 
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Replies:
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 27 July 2008 at 1:25pm
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You can go to the appointment no problems as you usually ahve to pay for the appointment and then claim that back. With southern x after you have a surgery date you ring to get prior approval, which means that approve to pay for the op before it happens. Then after the op you send in the bills for the op with your prior approval number and they sort it all. Maybe give Tower a call tomorrow to see what they do.
------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 27 July 2008 at 1:28pm
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Do we have to give the money upfront for the Surgery ....I'm screwed if we do coz I don't have money like that lying around, I have to scrounge just to get the money for the appt which I'm guessing will be around $200 mark.
I spent so much time stressing about the idea of an operation and moreso leaving my boy with my parents - that I totally overlooked the important details haha. Typical Stephanie moment right there! I shall give them a call tomorrow then |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 27 July 2008 at 1:30pm
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Nope thats what the prior approval is. With southern cross they give you a number and then we you go in for surgery you give the hospital that number. Tower maybe different so best to give them a call tomorrow. You might be surprised about the appointment thou. I have never paid more than $150 for an inital appointment. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 27 July 2008 at 2:14pm
| A lot of surgeons etc will give you a bill and not expect payment at the time. |
Posted By: FionaS
Date Posted: 27 July 2008 at 2:20pm
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Yeap, you will probably need to pay for the appt then claim it back from your insurance. If you are really stuck some places will add the appt cost to the surgery cost so the insurance company just pays them the whole lot directly.
You will need to apply for pre-approval before the surgery. ------------- Mummy to Gabrielle and Ashley |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 27 July 2008 at 2:47pm
Some places charge you for the initial consult (the gremlins ENT doc does, as does my GYN), some don't and bill it with the surgery (the oral surgeon who did my wisdom teeth doesn't). How much it costs depends on who you see, the most I've ever paid for a specialist appt is $270 (initial consult with the gremlins allergy paed - and that was $270 for EACH of them!  ) and the lower end of the scale is around $110 for their ENT specialist.
Most places bill any post op follow ups with the surgery tho so you don't have to pay for those. I don't know how Tower work but I know Twoblondinis had drama with them when she applied for prior approval for her lap surgery. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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