Joining the Overseas ADR Club

[Lillyth]

Originally Posted by Boxer78

Yes!!!! Same here. Before I woke up with numbness everywhere I was boxing grappling gettn stacked on my head, doin squats you name it. So who knows what could of happened. But yea if this all works out we owe it to everyone to post some kind of crazy video.

OMG! Maybe we can even grapple TOGETHER! How freaking cool would that be? Not one, but TWO martial artists with multi-level ADR! Hot DOG! Where in the states are you? I'm in CA.

[Boxer78]

Yessssss I'm in new york. Never been to Cali though ) so are you schedule for surgery??

[Lillyth]

I think so? March 18th is the day I requested out of the options Yolanda game me. Hopefully I will hear back from her soon about that. Since I am having so many levels done (Six! Yikes!) I need to be his only surgery for the day. I certainly hope I don't have to wait until April! Otherwise he is booked with surgeries already and doesn't have a full day to block off until then. Rest

Rest assured the moment I am scheduled for surgery * officially*, I will update my signature!

I have been to NY once, but would love an excuse to go back. We'll make this happen somehow. That is, if don't blow all our money in Barcelona. LOL!

[mmareef]

Originally Posted by Harrison

MM, I don't understand the variance in US prices. It's nuts and very regional. However, the "higher volume" spine clinics would charge 1/3 of what you were quoted. Did you shop around in the states?!

For reference: http://www.adrsupport.org/forums/f50...doctors-11140/

Hi Harrison,

Yeah, the whole economics of medical care is nuts. Close to 90% of that price was for the Hospital.

I quickly confirmed via this site (and other sources) what a more reasonable price looked like - which was more in line with what I originally estimated.

I considered consulting with other clinics in the US (outside of my area). To be honest, I had reached the point where I didn't want to keep looking for options. Based on the information at hand, Dr. Clavel seemed like the best bet so I went for it. I don't know if that's the smartest way to go about it but it's what made sense to me.

[JeffR]

Don't feel too bad I don't think you would have found the U.S. surgeries outside your area to be cost competitive with Europe.

The hospital fees alone in my quote the Texas Back Institute for a three level were $45,000 and my total quote of $78,000 only included a two night hospital stay. For Europe I could have the whole procedure for less than the hospital fees in the U.S. plus I get _5_ nights in the hospital and other things like physio and revision insurance.

I realize that Harrison thinks the U.S. is a viable option, and for people who have local experienced doctors with one level degenerated it may be, but when you crunch the numbers Europe just makes a whole lot of sense. Part of the problem with the U.S. system is the ridiculous charges various providers make to each other. I had a discogram done through TBI for $3,000. Which was a lot but it wasn't killer. When I got invoiced the anesthesiologist tried to charge me $17,000 for 1/2 general anesthetic - when I called them up they said it was their standard rate (I won in the end BTW and only paid the $1,500 that I owed them). It's just crazy...

[Lillyth]

Originally Posted by JeffR

The hospital fees alone in my quote the Texas Back Institute for a three level were $45,000 and my total quote of $78,000 only included a two night hospital stay. For Europe I could have the whole procedure for less than the hospital fees in the U.S. plus I get _5_ nights in the hospital and other things like physio and revision insurance.

That is how much I am paying for SIX levels, and SEVEN nights in a hotel in Barcelona! Geeze! I get twice the care that he charges for half the services!

[jss]

Originally Posted by Lillyth

That is how much I am paying for SIX levels, and SEVEN nights in a hotel in Barcelona! Geeze! I get twice the care that he charges for half the services!

Yet another reason that many of us go to Europe for this surgery.

[Lillyth]

Tru dat.

BTW, and I will update on the other thread, ADR is nearly 100% tax-deductible per my accountant.

Anything over 10% of your income (starting 2013, was 7.5% prior) is deductible. SAVE ALL receipts.

Plus, the argument that it would be at least 2x that amount in the US works in our favor. My accountant suggested a letter from a doc stating medical necessity.

[JeffR]

In Canada we get an even sweeter deal: we get to deduct everything over 3% of net income (or over a base of $2,109 whichever is less). :P

[Lillyth]

Originally Posted by JeffR

In Canada we get an even sweeter deal: we get to deduct everything over 3% of net income (or over a base of $2,109 whichever is less). :P

You guys have it GREAT over there! I just watched Sicko today. WOW.