[bwink23]

Congrats on your course of action...the Pars defect injection was nothing more than your standard flouroscopic injection to test the fracture site for pain. I got nothing from it. So are you doing a one level or 2-level fusion? I'm working my way over to Spain. I received a Hybrid fusion/ADR recommendation from Dr. Clavel in Spain, fusion at S1 and ADR at L4/5. No surprise there as that was what i was expecting. But, i also have cervical issues which i'm getting addressed right now. I will see a couple docs about that this week, one that does fusions, and one that does both, and get their recommendations. I will also forward my films to Dr. Clavel for his recommendation. If he says it's a go, I'll be going over for a cervical/lumbar procedure in one trip. I asked and he does do both procedures in one time. It's a lot to take on at once, but i'll do my best with it.

The fusion approach he would use is an anterior one, seeing is my lithesis is small and i would already be opened up for an ADR. Until i arrange the conference call, i won't have much more information than that. I called my insurance, and the lady said my insurance bennies are the same here or if i go overseas, but covered at an out-of-network percentage, which for me is 70%. Better than nothing. That's not to say they won't try to bite me on going over there for ADR surgery though.

There have been a couple posters here who had success getting it covered through Dr. Clavel if you have WorldWide BlueCard on your BCBS policy, which i do. Funny thing is, the lady at our office who deals with eligibility, said she is 90% sure i'm only covered for things like "colds", not major surgery. She then transferred me over to a different department for verification. That department made it clear that my benefits did not change going overseas, other than it being out-of-network, and all costs i would have to cover myself, then submit for reimbursement. I am convinced insurance companies are extremely disorganized and mildly retarded.