4 weeks and counting!!
It's been a while since my last post. A few good things: my surgery was moved up a month so I now have less than 4 weeks until the big day, and my surgery was pre-approved by my insurance company!
I have fought with several insurance companies over the years... but I lucked out and got one that actually covers TMJ. For those who don't know how much of a problem TMJ is with health insurance coverage, let me explain.
TMJ can refer to several different problems. You may have bad jaw joints (like I do), you may just have an uneven bite (meaning how your teeth hit), your jaw could be set back too far, or something else. In many cases treatment consists or oral work (meaning braces or orthotic appliances you wear) or it might be surgical.
So the big question is: is it a medical problem or a dental problem. You can argue both sides, but which insurance company should have to pay the bill? Well, this gray area has never been defined so both sides tend to exclude it from their coverage, neither wanting to claim it.There are a few companies who will cover TMJ, but even then it is usually limited. Cigna, for example, would cover surgical TMJ costs but nothing else. So the oral appliances and braces you need won't be covered. I fought with blue cross before who agreed my case did warrant a medical necessity, but they have an exclusion for TMJ so tough luck. It can be really frustrating having a medical problem and being in pain but your insurance can just say they won't cover it because they don't want to. It is just so hypocritical of what insurance is supposed to be for. Anyways, mine somehow miraculously got approved.
I have my final orthodontic appointment next week along with my pre-op appointment. I should get a lot more info from these and will send out an update. I'm starting to get nervous but it still hasn't quite sunken in yet. Once I'm in that hospital gown I know I'll start to panic!
I panicked the last time I had TMJ surgery. (I cry when I'm nervous) I remember being wheeled back into the operating room, tears were streaking down my face, I was shaking, and I was holding a Kleenex in my hand the nurse had given me, to which I was holding onto for dear life. The anesthesiologist took one look at me and started yelling at the nurse about why she didn't give me anything to calm me down. I didn't get a countdown or a warning I was about to be put under. He just stuck something over my face and my last memory is him yelling very loudly at her. When I woke up, my first thought was, "where is my Kleenex?" I don't know why I expected it to be there, but that was my first concern. Lol Hopefully I do better this time.
I'll write a more informative update after my pre-op. Stay tuned!
It's been a while since my last post. A few good things: my surgery was moved up a month so I now have less than 4 weeks until the big day, and my surgery was pre-approved by my insurance company!
I have fought with several insurance companies over the years... but I lucked out and got one that actually covers TMJ. For those who don't know how much of a problem TMJ is with health insurance coverage, let me explain.
TMJ can refer to several different problems. You may have bad jaw joints (like I do), you may just have an uneven bite (meaning how your teeth hit), your jaw could be set back too far, or something else. In many cases treatment consists or oral work (meaning braces or orthotic appliances you wear) or it might be surgical.
So the big question is: is it a medical problem or a dental problem. You can argue both sides, but which insurance company should have to pay the bill? Well, this gray area has never been defined so both sides tend to exclude it from their coverage, neither wanting to claim it.There are a few companies who will cover TMJ, but even then it is usually limited. Cigna, for example, would cover surgical TMJ costs but nothing else. So the oral appliances and braces you need won't be covered. I fought with blue cross before who agreed my case did warrant a medical necessity, but they have an exclusion for TMJ so tough luck. It can be really frustrating having a medical problem and being in pain but your insurance can just say they won't cover it because they don't want to. It is just so hypocritical of what insurance is supposed to be for. Anyways, mine somehow miraculously got approved.
I have my final orthodontic appointment next week along with my pre-op appointment. I should get a lot more info from these and will send out an update. I'm starting to get nervous but it still hasn't quite sunken in yet. Once I'm in that hospital gown I know I'll start to panic!
I panicked the last time I had TMJ surgery. (I cry when I'm nervous) I remember being wheeled back into the operating room, tears were streaking down my face, I was shaking, and I was holding a Kleenex in my hand the nurse had given me, to which I was holding onto for dear life. The anesthesiologist took one look at me and started yelling at the nurse about why she didn't give me anything to calm me down. I didn't get a countdown or a warning I was about to be put under. He just stuck something over my face and my last memory is him yelling very loudly at her. When I woke up, my first thought was, "where is my Kleenex?" I don't know why I expected it to be there, but that was my first concern. Lol Hopefully I do better this time.
I'll write a more informative update after my pre-op. Stay tuned!
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