Elective surgery is when you choose to obtain it based on personal reasons or a doctor’s recommendation, like a hip replacement, knee surgery, or breast reduction. This means there’s more time to prepare yourself mentally and financially, which allows saving money to become an achievable goal. Read on to learn more about the financial aspects of elective surgery.
Consultations
First off, you will have consultations before making the final decision. These aim to give you time to work with your doctor on the best way to approach the issue. You can also get more information on any alternatives you have, specifics and risks of the procedure, and aftercare when all is done. Since the surgery is not done on an emergency basis, you may decide to consult with more than one doctor.
Note that this cost will vary from one doctor to another, and it may not be covered by all insurance. During your consultation, make it worth your while by finding out everything you need to know. For instance, if you are having surgery done on your nose, you should know that the nasal septum is composed of cartilage and bone, and lined with mucous membranes. It separates the nasal passages while giving structural support to the outside of your nose. It also improves the dynamics of air flow inside of the nose, making it an important structure and one that should be handled delicately.
It’s important to keep in mind that, after your consultations, you should settle for the most knowledgeable and experienced doctor and surgeon that understands the ins and outs of the body part you’d like surgery on.
Up-Front Costs and Insurance
When it comes to insurance, you should find out if the procedure you need has to be pre-authorized. If this is the case, your doctor must notify your insurance company that the surgery is a medically necessary procedure before you have it done. This way, they will give authorization and save you from paying for it out of pocket.
To benefit fully from the insurance, you will have to stay within your network of doctors, labs, and all healthcare providers whose services you will need. Over the last decade in the U.S., the number of both nonsurgical cosmetic procedures and surgical ones has increased from 1.6 million procedures in 1997 to more than 4.8 million in 2018. This may be in part thanks to better insurance coverage and more research done by individuals before they start a procedure.
Leave of Absence from Work
Find out from your doctor how long the procedure will take as well as any special care you will need afterwards. To get the best experience with the least impact on your work schedule, plan for the procedure to be done around a time when you can take a vacation long enough to have the procedure done and then recover. Otherwise, the last three months of the year are the best time if you can set your leave of absence for this time. This is because you will pay less of the surgery’s cost, as you’ve most likely used up a big chunk of your insurance deductible.
Recovery
To make sure that the procedure has the highest chances of success, you need to plan for your recovery well. Find out from your doctor what needs to be done, and if any special considerations must be made, plan for them. These may be anything from getting a wheelchair or crutches, to changing the layout of your home and getting help to keep you from straining yourself. Don’t prioritise saving money at this point over getting good care.
Say you’d like to obtain a surgery involving your mouth or face. It’s important to speak with not only your doctor but also your dentist. Dentistry is considered to be one of the 10 most highly trusted and ethical professions in America. Checking with your dentist before obtaining surgery can help you best prepare for recovery afterwards, as they’ll have the best knowledge as to how your mouth should heal properly.
If you’re planning on getting an elective surgical procedure done, it’s a good thing to do your research so that saving money does not come at the inflated cost of getting a bad job done. Find out everything you can before taking any action, and you will have a great experience.
