Limb Lengthening Forum

Limb Lengthening Surgery => Limb Lengthening Discussions => Topic started by: Infinite on July 02, 2023, 08:19:11 PM

Title: Complications in the USA - What to do when they occur? There is no discussion of
Post by: Infinite on July 02, 2023, 08:19:11 PM
Hi everyone,

I wanted to bring up a topic that doesn't seem to be discussed much.

I was wondering what happens if someone does LL in the USA but isn't a citizen of the country and ends up having complications.
I heard that the cost of staying in the hospital could be incredibly high, thousands of dollars per night, and It is conceivable that someone could end up with medical bills totaling between 100K-200K due to complications.

Does anyone have any insight or suggestions on how to deal with this situation?
Title: Re: Complications in the USA - What to do when they occur? There is no discussion of
Post by: Medium Drink Of Water on July 02, 2023, 08:50:03 PM
The doctor may cover it if it's his fault with the bills being sent to him.

Ask a travel insurer if you can get a policy that would cover it.
Title: Re: Complications in the USA - What to do when they occur? There is no discussion of
Post by: Marie_Bard on July 03, 2023, 09:44:17 AM
Quote from: Medium Drink Of Water on July 02, 2023, 08:50:03 PM
The doctor may cover it if it's his fault with the bills being sent to him.

Ask a travel insurer if you can get a policy that would cover it.

Is it common that US doctors accept responsibility for mistakes and negligence easily and pay the bill, or you need to claim all that in a court?
Title: Re: Complications in the USA - What to do when they occur? There is no discussion of
Post by: Medium Drink Of Water on July 03, 2023, 05:54:14 PM
Too hard to say.  Depends entirely on what happened and who the doctor is.

Sometimes you can get billing delayed if a lawsuit is ongoing.
Title: Re: Complications in the USA - What to do when they occur? There is no discussion of
Post by: TheDream on July 03, 2023, 07:11:24 PM
A good idea would be to have a buffer (i.e. extra funds in case you need to stay longer).

As for complications, from what I’ve read on here, US docs tend to be fast at dealing with stuff like nail breaks as they themselves are insured by the manufacturer.

But it is best to clarify this with the doctors before the procedure, as in, what is the agreement for scenarios that involve complications? Which are covered, which are not?

I would expect that the doctor covers you for free for the complication procedure itself, but probably not the extra stay, so hence the buffer.
Title: Re: Complications in the USA - What to do when they occur? There is no discussion of
Post by: jerrytheman on July 03, 2023, 08:36:55 PM
I can answer the question here. I had a nail breakage (not my fault, nor the doctors), from one of the 5 main USA surgeons.

Was able to schedule a surgery within 4 days of talking to the doctor. Since it is a complication, insurance covers. I had a mediocre insurance and they basically just made sure to have a prior auth with the hospital they are doing the surgery at, which was pretty quickly approved.
I was able to see the itemized bills. They charged total a little short of $250k, which you may think is crazy. Since a surgery itself with 2 day stay at the same hospital was only $70k total. They charged $117k for the "rod" that nuvasive should have gave for free because it was a defective rod.
But honestly, I dont care. I paid around $1k total for the entire surgery because of insurance.
You have to understand how American insurance works, if you don't read up on it.

Now if I didnt have insurance, I'm not sure what would have happened. Maybe the doctors would have figured out a way to replace my rod for a cheap price, maybe not, not sure. But I had health insurance from work, and I paid $1k because that's whats left on my annual deductible.
Title: Re: Complications in the USA - What to do when they occur? There is no discussion of
Post by: Infinite on July 04, 2023, 10:32:06 PM
Quote from: jerrytheman on July 03, 2023, 08:36:55 PM
I can answer the question here. I had a nail breakage (not my fault, nor the doctors), from one of the 5 main USA surgeons.

Was able to schedule a surgery within 4 days of talking to the doctor. Since it is a complication, insurance covers. I had a mediocre insurance and they basically just made sure to have a prior auth with the hospital they are doing the surgery at, which was pretty quickly approved.
I was able to see the itemized bills. They charged total a little short of $250k, which you may think is crazy. Since a surgery itself with 2 day stay at the same hospital was only $70k total. They charged $117k for the "rod" that nuvasive should have gave for free because it was a defective rod.
But honestly, I dont care. I paid around $1k total for the entire surgery because of insurance.
You have to understand how American insurance works, if you don't read up on it.

Now if I didnt have insurance, I'm not sure what would have happened. Maybe the doctors would have figured out a way to replace my rod for a cheap price, maybe not, not sure. But I had health insurance from work, and I paid $1k because that's whats left on my annual deductible.

Thank you very much for your detailed information. I hope you’re doing well.
I’m guess you’re an American citizen, right?
So you have American private insurance.

What was happening if it happened to anyone he isn’t American citizen? 
Title: Re: Complications in the USA - What to do when they occur? There is no discussion of
Post by: Medium Drink Of Water on July 05, 2023, 03:11:37 AM
Quote from: TheDream on July 03, 2023, 07:11:24 PM
A good idea would be to have a buffer (i.e. extra funds in case you need to stay longer).

Almost as much of a reason to do LL in a 3rd world country as the low price for the procedure itself.