Reconstruction ?
I had a mastectomy three weeks today , right breast and I am just starting to do some research on reconstruction, but not looking at having it done till the end of the year. I did not hve an expan...
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Medicare will pay 80% of the scheduled fee for a recon and HBA pays the gap on the scheduled fee. The scheduled fee for a recon is $4,000. This is nowhere near what most surgeons charge for 6+ hours of surgery + aftercare. My surgeon charged $10,000 for the op. Medicare refunded $3250 and HBA $750. Our out-of-pocket was therefore $6,000 + the anaesthetist's fee, some of which was also refunded by Medicare. By far the largest fee was for the hospital, which charged over $18,000 for 7 days. Luckily, we only had to pay an excess of $300.
In my opinion, the scheduled fee is way too low for over six hours of delicate surgery that requires years of training. We are not silly, frivolous women seeking to "improve" on nature. We have been unlucky enough to have had our lives turned upside down by a stupid, ugly disease, and are just trying to look normal as we get on with our lives. Personally, I would rather see my tax dollars being spent on restoring a woman's self-esteem than on buying bombs to kill pople I don't even know.
Sometimes I feel guilty that I am one of the people who can afford private cover that paid for the majority of my treatment. I hate the idea that some of us are made to feel like charity cases and put up with the limitations of the public system with its waiting lists and allocation of surgeons who may not specialise in breast reconstruction. Many of them have not been trained to do the operation I had (DIEP flap).
People don't realise that plastic surgery is not just about facelifts and boob jobs. Reconstruction work focuses on helping people look as normal as possible when they have suffered some sort of disfigurement. Not all plastic surgeons are about making huge amounts of money from vain and wealthy men and women. When I was able to buy my first swimsuit in 20 years during a recent holiday, I sent my plastic surgeon a postcard to thank him for the amazing job he has done.
If you're thinking about having a reconstruction, go for it and get what you're entitled to. I am more than happy to pay my share for you with my very best wishes.
Sorry about the rant!!
Sue