Application from Dr Bowers

[Amy1988]

So I got an email from Dr Bowers with an application attached for SRS.  For a $1000 fee it gets me on a waiting list.  What is the average waiting time?  I Plan on quitting my job to get 401K money for the surgery but I want to build it up some more to offset the withdrawal penalties .

[Alana_Jane]

Best of luck... 

Dr. Bowers would also be one of my first choices as well, when the time comes.  One thing that concerns me though is her maximum weight, as I'm a big girl, as a male my ideal body fat was 190lbs, and I've been in the 205-215 lbs range for the past decade. 

As a side question, do you have to quit your job to get at your 401k money?  It'd be better if you kept it that way you have a secure income both before and after.  Depending on who manages the 401k you might be able to take a "loan" from it with low interest and keep the account.  I know that's an option for me in a few years. 

-Alana

[Amy1988]

Best of luck... 

Dr. Bowers would also be one of my first choices as well, when the time comes.  One thing that concerns me though is her maximum weight, as I'm a big girl, as a male my ideal body fat was 190lbs, and I've been in the 205-215 lbs range for the past decade. 

As a side question, do you have to quit your job to get at your 401k money?  It'd be better if you kept it that way you have a secure income both before and after.  Depending on who manages the 401k you might be able to take a "loan" from it with low interest and keep the account.  I know that's an option for me in a few years. 

-Alana

Unfortunately the amount I'm eligible to borrow is not near enough and I spent my savings getting FFS so my only option quitting my job.

[Alana_Jane]

Unfortunately the amount I'm eligible to borrow is not near enough and I spent my savings getting FFS so my only option quitting my job.

Sorry to hear that.  Maybe you can get something lined up so you quit, get GCS, then get hired on soon after recovering.  Not all of us have that kind of career flexibility.  It sounds like their insurance specialist gets at least half the fees covered.  There's not health insurance coverage either? 

Based on your previous thread, last I heard was 18 month wait time.  I think I'll apply a year from next April.  By the time I'm up the wait list it'll be between 2 to 3 years.  I hope to have this done before I hit the big Five-Oh, and I'll be 48 in two years. 

-Alana

[Khalysta]

I scheduled in December and got a date in march 2016.  You can get on the wait list.  Talking to the one girl there it sounds like they give it a lot of room to play it safe and they also get a lot of cancellations.  So if you want to do it with her just get your paperwork in and done so you can be ready to go if something opens up.

Also I wouldn't dump your 401k for this.  You get taxed pretty high if you cash in early and you lose out on the compounding interest which then impacts your future.  You have plenty of time to tighten your belt and save up if you work through her wait list.

[LizMarie]

You realize that GCS costs are often tax deductible (so are FFS costs sometimes)? And that medical bills above and beyond 7.5% of annual income are also just cause for withdrawing from IRAs or 401Ks without penalty?

My recommendation is to talk to a tax specialist on this issue. You may end up with both no penalty and a hefty refund in for the year in which GCS takes place.

[ForeverGiselle]

Can you take a loan out on your 401K?  It's essentially borrowing money from yourself and paying yourself back.  I did this to help with some traveling cost and it help a lot and the interests rate isn't as outrageous as taking other personal loans or charging it on credit card. 

[Amy1988]

You realize that GCS costs are often tax deductible (so are FFS costs sometimes)? And that medical bills above and beyond 7.5% of annual income are also just cause for withdrawing from IRAs or 401Ks without penalty?

My recommendation is to talk to a tax specialist on this issue. You may end up with both no penalty and a hefty refund in for the year in which GCS takes place.

I didn't know that.  Ill check into it.

[Amy1988]

Can you take a loan out on your 401K?  It's essentially borrowing money from yourself and paying yourself back.  I did this to help with some traveling cost and it help a lot and the interests rate isn't as outrageous as taking other personal loans or charging it on credit card.

I did that for the FFS so I'm tapped out as far as what's available for a loan.