Insurance companies amaze me sometimes - and I worked for one for 10 years! There is only one neurotologist in my area that could have done my surgery - but he wasn't on the list of preferred providers, so my insurance company suggested i find someone else or they wouldn't pay for it. When I asked them for names of other surgeons in the area who could do this stuff, they couldn't come up with any, but still insisted they couldn't pay for it. Finally after talking to numerous supervisors, I had to tell them that I wasn't really going to let the old lady who works at the front desk at the hospital do my brain surgery just so they'd pay for it and if they didn't have any better options, they'd better get the checkbook ready. They eventually agreed.
Then I had to have the surgery on my eye, which my doctor could have done at his office because he has a surgical suite right there. But no, the insurance covered the doctor, but not his in-office surgical suite, so they had to pay more for me to go to the hospital, pay the hospital fees, the anaesthesiologist and everyone else who may have glanced at my chart that day.
I think their efforts to save money are actually costing them more in the long run.
Enough of my ranting - good luck to you! I didn't have my surgery there, but I know the doctors there have an excellent reputation, so I know you're in good hands!
Lori
