Have you been following my journey to dental implants? You might recall from my Journey to Dental Implants Part 2 post that I’d received a stack of denial letters and was elbow deep in appeals. I’m excited to share journey to dental implants part 3. It’s been 404 days since we originally submitted our treatment plan.
Journey to Dental Implants Part 3
Last week we received a letter from our health insurance company that they would cover a portion of the previously denied procedure codes. We do have to submit everything to our dental insurance first, then submit the dental insurance explanation of benefits (EOB) to the health insurance for them to provide coverage.
My surgeon for the implants procedures is Dr. Michael Miloro DMD, MD, FACS. He’s the Chief of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at UIC. My prosthedontis for the implants is Dr. Clark Stanford, DDS, PhD, Cert. Prosthodontics. He is the Dean of the College of Dentistry at UIC and is well versed in patients with ectodermal dysplasia. They are both the best of the best in what they do. Both specialists have told us that that we have to stay local to UIC at least until my follow up consult appointments on October 8th.
In 2016 I did something that I don’t ever do. Jodi, the Director of Marketing and Communications for the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias, was taking a few pictures of me. In fact, she took the photos that I use in my profile photo everywhere. It’s my favorite photo of myself. Anyway, as she and I were joking around, I allowed her to take photos of me with my teeth in my hand. I don’t generally allow ANYONE to do that (sorry, Mom), but I know that Jodi would use them for the NFED for advocacy, and that’s precisely what she has used them for in the last two years. Looking at the photo now, knowing that in a few months I’ll have my implants, I am SO grateful that I did allow her to take it. This photo will serve as a reminder to me of just how far I’ve come! Thanks, Jodi! I couldn’t smile without you. 😉
Photo © Jodi Reinhardt , National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasia
Dr. Stanford is doing me a solid. In effort to reduce the initial out of pocket cost, my current dentures will be transformed into temporary fixed plates for the implants. After my bone heals around the implants, in 6-12 months, I will receive permanent fixed plates.
I have a hard time asking for help for anything, but was encouraged by several friends to do a fundraiser, so I created the Planting Smiles Facebook Fundraiser.
Above all else, I covet your prayers that God will provide the funds needed for this surgery. If you’re moved to help financially, I pray it will be returned to you 1000x.
We will have to pay another $24,000 out of pocket to receive my final fixed dentures in 6-12 months. The time frame depends on how long it takes my bone to heal around the implants. Then we have to PRAY that the health insurance will honor their word and reimburse the portion they’ve said they would cover. When all is said and done, our final out of pocket cost for the surgery will be roughly $17,000.
There are 455 days between the day that we submitted the treatment plan to insurance until date of surgery, which is now in 51 days.
