If I go through with jaw surgery, how much will it cost out of my pocket (not covered by insurance)? The question will resolve twelve months after the date of jaw surgery, or N/A if I don't get surgery at least 12 months before the resolution date. If I incur some expenses but don't actually get the surgery it will resolve N/A. The resolution will include all directly associated expenses, including treatments to deal with complications of the surgery, such as follow-on surgeries. If braces are necessary then that will count toward resolution. If I get reimbursed by my insurer for out of pocket, out of network fees, that will count as reducing the expense for this resolution. Consult fees before beginning the program will not count. The resolution will not include lost wages from time off work. If there is an unresolved billing dispute or if I go into medical debt, the full amount claimed by my healthcare providers will count toward resolution even if I am not paying it. If my family helps pay for it, that will still count as an out of pocket expense.
I have moderate retrognathism, open bite, and overbite, meaning I would be a candidate for mandibular osteotomy. I still have my wisdom teeth. I'm 29 years old. I live in Los Angeles and currently have health and dental insurance through my employer. I make enough money to afford a high end surgeon but I am not sure if it's worth the expense compared to a cheaper surgeon. I don't want a particularly strong jawline, just a normal one.
Answers in nominal USD not adjusted for inflation. I will not bet in this market.
Update 2025-03-01 (PST): - Insurance Premium Differences: The difference between my current insurance and Kaiser insurance premiums will be included as part of the cost of surgery, since I am changing insurance for coverage purposes. (AI summary of creator comment)
Update 2025-01-08: Money I spend from an HSA/HRA/FSA will also count toward my total out of pocket expense.
Update 2025-05-15 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): Wisdom teeth extraction costs are considered within the scope of 'directly associated expenses' for resolving this market. Any portion covered by insurance will reduce the out-of-pocket expense, as per existing rules.
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One oral surgery office, apparently a cheap one, has notified me that the entire cost of wisdom teeth extraction will be covered by my dental insurances. Two others say I will have to pay about $1k out of pocket.
This week I signed up for Kaiser insurance ($444 per month starting February) and I got braces ($8133). The insurance plan is an HMO with 0% copay for covered surgeries. Once I cancel my old health insurance, the net increase in my monthly premium will be $370.
I visited a second orthodontist, one of the best. He says the surgeon will likely recommend me to get DOUBLE jaw surgery, preceded by removal of ALL FOUR wisdom teeth. 😭 I estimate the cost will be $8k for the orthodontist, $12k in premiums for two years of Kaiser insurance, $4.5k for the surgery (reaching the out of pocket maximum for the insurance), and whatever I have to pay for removal of wisdom teeth.
I could go through United and it would theoretically be cheaper ($15k instead of $25k, excluding wisdom teeth removal) but that's IF everything gets covered by United, which is a wildcard. Kaiser is financially safer and I think I like their doctors more.
I went to an orthodontist. She said I would need braces plus jaw surgery, possibly even double jaw surgery. She quoted a $6840 all up fee for the braces, which won't be covered by my insurance. She advised me to switch to Kaiser to cover the jaw surgery; I think I will. The premiums will be far higher. I will include the difference between my current insurance and Kaiser insurance as part of the cost of surgery, since I would be changing insurance basically for the sole purpose of getting covered for this surgery.
I enrolled in UHC Choice Plus HRA and through the online health insurance portal, found about four or five in-network surgeons outside of UCLA whose offices confirmed on the phone that they perform corrective jaw surgeries. There are more who probably would, but didn't pick up the phone. My in-network benefits are $3k deductible, $6k out of pocket maximum, and 20% copay on surgeon's fees and hospital stays.
@GleamingRhino I don’t know any of that yet. I will post updates as soon as I get more information. I’m changing insurances due to a new employer.