Warning: Contains many questions and is considerably long.
I've been saving my money for quite some time now for top surgery but I'm still not quite there. I am basically trying to work out all the fees and how to spend my money wisely so I don't have to save as much, and can get my surgery sooner
I have chosen my surgeon as Dr. Garramone because honestly I can't think of anyone who does top surgery better than him!
The surgery itself is pretty cheap compared to some surgeons. Now without coverage, does anyone know the average amount for prescription pain meds? I get an 80% coverage right now, which puts the meds up around eighty-hundred dollars without coverage. This surgery price also doesn't include any of those prescription garments that I've seen some people get after surgery, those binders... I have no idea of the cost there. My pre op labs will be done by my doctor, and thankfully because of my age I do not need a mammogram!
Another question is about deposits. Does the deposit come off the overall fees, or is it an additional fee? I know whenever I pay deposits, like when I got my tattoo, it came out of the actual fee for the tattoo, just non-refundable so if I changed my mind I was ->-bleeped-<- out of luck. Anyone know?
The flight there is fairly cheap, however I believe I have to fly down twice, once for a consultation but I'm not to sure, I've never gotten surgery before. The round trip is very cheap, so if I do need to go twice it's not that big of a deal.
Heres where things are a little more tricky. My original idea was to stay in a hotel, to be more specific the Hampton Inn. I was like awesome, a pool, gym and golf course, and I get to use NONE of it!
Anyways the price is well suited to the beauty of the hotel, but it's a lot to me. I have no idea who's planning to go with me, which may just be my mum since she would at least offer to pay half but I have no idea if she'll be up for watching me have this surgery. If not I have no idea what to do. I've never stayed in a motel, and I have no idea the costs or condition they keep those places in, but every time I see them in US movies it creeps me out because it's apparent the states has problem with roaches, I have never seen a roach in my entire life in Canada, even in the dirtiest of places! I just have a problem where if I see bugs I can't sleep because I imagine they will crawl on me.
So anyways this question I guess is basically for those in the Florida area or who have seen Dr. Garramone, I was wondering if they knew of any places, or where they stayed. I've tried looking up motels but had no luck.
Also one final thing. Cabs...or do you call them Taxi's? I don't know, but anyway that would be my only way of transportation at the time. I suck at directions and no way am I getting on a bus after surgery. I know of someone who took the subway after his and I was thinking he must be insane, but that's because he lived fairly close to his surgeon so only spent his stay in the hospital and then went home. I could make it to this surgeon easily as well, in 30 minutes but I don't really like his work, nothing compares to Garramone. Anyways, distance wise, how much do Taxi's/Cabs cost? Or does anyone know how I can find out? The hotel is only 8 minutes away from the Hospital. Of course that is if I get this hotel and don't decide to risky my bug phobia and go to some scary motel! Also there is the trip from the airport to there, who know how long that takes.
Anyways clearing this up would be a lot of help because right now the money I need to save is a lot compared to what I make. I do however have this awesome overdraft thing with my account, I think it's a $5,000 dollar limit, I don't want to use it, so I'm trying to avoid the temptation because paying it off can be a bitch! I plan to do all this WITHOUT a credit card. I refuse to pay for one.
There are only a few fees the way I have chosen. Plus Dr. G thankfully accepts checks!
Do hotels allow you to pay with bank cards? Wouldn't know, never been to one. However I know there will be fees for that, which does suck but not as much as I would have to pay to keep a credit card and not even be able to have enough on it to cover all this stuff, since I got no credit!
Anything else that I should consider costs for? I'm not sure about food, I'm a raw vegan so basically I'd just be buying fruits and stuff like that, so it shouldn't be so expensive, no room service! I don't really want to go there and spend money on souvenirs though I'm always tempted. Then again I think some surgery scars are a grand souvenir!
Sorry this is so incredibly long. I like to be thorough. XD
