Set to go

K and I are heading down to Torrey today and we think all the bases are covered.

I've triple checked the insurance. It's a trip dealing with these behemoths. A woman named Ashley answers the Regence Blue Cross customer service 800 number and asks if she can help. I tell her who I am and what I am doing and ask how I will be covered. I have two procedure codes for her. There is not yet an existing government code for a hip resurfacing so I give her codes for a total hip replacement and the code for an unspecified hip surgery. Then I tell her that it is neither of these, but that there is not a code. She can't find the procedure but says that yeah, it should be covered. ??? I say, Ashley, honey, I don't believe later when I get turned down that it is going to help me to say that I called and talked to Ashley and she said she thought I should be covered. Ashley sheepishly agreed. In the meanwhile, while still on the phone, K and I look up on the internet where Blue Cross has accepted the procedure and with the help of Google taking us right into the Blue Cross site go on to help Ashley find the procedure in her system. Then she says, oh yeah, here it is, and yes you are covered.

I have an insurance plan that coverers both my kids and me. Kirsten has been turned down for individual coverage and remains one of the great uncovered. For what is now running $8000 per year, Kristen, Nick and I have a $2500 deductible per person, then 80/20 up to a $4000 out of pocket maximum with a total individual lifetime coverage of $2 million. It took another call to find out about the $2 million. On that call I asked what is the maximum payout per individual on my plan. The rep asked do you mean the deductable? I said no, what is the insurance company's max payout? She said you mean your max out of pocket? I said, no . . . Anyway, you get the picture. Then, this morning I noticed while paying bills I had just missed the last premium mailer which is now 2 weeks late. I called again, this time very well helped by a rep who made a note in my file that the check was in the mail(!) and assured me I had a 30 day grace period anyway.

As my buddy Brian says, these premiums are huge but all you need is one procedure like this and they start to make more sense.

K went today and got the blood thinner script I take the night before surgery, the land line is transferred so when the hospital calls the Melony house line Monday to tell us when to check in we'll get the call on her cell, I've been off ibuprofen for a few weeks (because it also is a blood thinner), K got recommended stool softener for post op, and other than that there isn't much else to get ready. Insurance, will, meds, Hippy Tie Yi Yo!