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Miss_Sue's avatar
Miss_Sue
Member
13 years ago

Paying for Reconstruction up front

Hello all, just have to vent a little!!  I was diagnosed June 2011 (age 47) lumpectomy, followed by mastectomy 1 week later, then 6 cycles of chemo, rads and now Tamoxifen.  So now feel the time is right to 'be all put back together again'.  I would love to know has anyone had to pay all costs up front for their reconstruction?  I knew that I would have quite a bit of 'out of pocket' expenses for my reconstruction but did not realise that I would have to pay for all (including an estimated Anaesthetist fee) up front!!  In total I have to come up with a further $9495 having already paid a deposit to my surgeon of $1690.  I thought that having private insurance would help, but it appears not.  The frustrating part for me is that I am not someone who is just having surgery for cosmetic purposes only - I just want back what cancer took away!!  I am very happy with my surgeon but just so disappointed that  I have to pay all upfront.  I am still paying off debts from my previous surgeries and treatment. Ok vent over!!  Would welcome hearing from anyone who has experienced the same.  By the way I am having a tram flap recon scheduled for the 30th November. 

3 Replies

  • Miss_Sue's avatar
    Miss_Sue
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hi Jenn, thanks for your reply to my message. How frustrating is it too pay for years and years of private health insurance and not get the expected benefits. My surgery now has been split  into two so no new boob for Xmas so now I have to wonder how much my original quote is going to blow out by! It's not like we want a cosmetic boob job to enhance our prospects - we just want back what cancer took away.

  • Jennt28's avatar
    Jennt28
    Member
    13 years ago
    Yes, because I chose to go "private" instead of on the waiting list for MX and reconstruction I had to pay, and pay big! I initially had a lumpectomy and then near the end of chemo found out I had been and still was at high risk of breast cancer and more breast cancer. Because I had already had the initial lump out I was not a priority and the public waitlist was, I was told, years long. Being high risk I might not have had years.... so I had no choice really... I had double mastectomy with free TRAM reconstruction as a private patient in a public hospital. The plastic surgeon gap was $8000, the anaesthetist gap was $4000 and the breast surgeon gap was supposed to be $1000. The BS gap was waived because her resident ended up doing the mastctomy (long story). The PS required the gap payment 3 weeks prior to surgery. That money was supposed to pay for hubby and I to go to England this coming year so I could meet my recently found half-sister and her family. I just can't envisage ever being able to do that now :-/ But, I no longer panic about cancer coming back in my breasts. I just panic about it coming back elsewhere now! Our Australian health "insurance" system is pretty screwed. We have TOP executive, very expensive, insurance and yet we still paid huge amounts in gap fees. Jenn
  • Jrova's avatar
    Jrova
    Member
    13 years ago
    I've had almost no out of pocket costs for my double lat dorsi reconstruction. My plastic surgeon wrote to my health fund to explain it wasn't for cosmetic purposes and they paid the full amount, even on the right boob which I had removed as a precaution. I had no gap for the anaethetist either. The only things I paid for were pain killers in hospital and an extra $41 per day in hospital because I wanted a private room. So far, I've had two operations resulting in 11 days in hospital and my health fund have contributed over $20,000. I don't know why health funds differ so much!! Good luck xx Jane