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BellaAntigone
You wrote that you have insurance to cover your GCS / SRS. Is that insurance coverage in the USA or elsewhere? I am presuming USA because you posted that you are deciding on American surgeons.
How much will your insurance cover versus how much will you bear out-of-pocket? The entire package.
Yes, you wrote that Thailand is not in your plan. May I mention that the three primary Thai surgeons / clinics (Dr. Chettawut, Dr. Suporn, PAI) do offer reasonable prices. The entire cost of their packages when you add air travel from USA, pre- and post-op accommodations at their recovery hotels / cottages, and all the sight-seeing you can do pre-op (Thailand, Southeast Asia, Australia, China, Mongolia, etc.) can out-weigh the expence you will pay for domestic (American) surgery. That sight-seeing can also develop an improved, positive frame of mind versus a ho-hum plain ol' trip to California (nothing against California, I have my favourite places).
Plus, those three Thai surgeons may have sooner availabilities than 2017 - perhaps as soon as later this Spring or Summer.
There are many recent Susan's threads of people travelling to Thailand. Perhaps you can learn from them and decide based upon more information.
Just re-presenting options to you.
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