AMS or Coloplast warranties cost

[Agfa13]

With all this talk of warranties from AMS or Coloplast, why does it matter? If a bulb breaks, you still gotta pay for it (or your insurance).
Regardless of what happens (or happened), the surgery is still going to cost some big bucks. You are still going to put up with the insurance company and all the crap that goes with it. Even more if you have to pay of pocket.
Someone care to enlighten me?
What am I missing?
Is there going to be a difference in costs if the implant fails to pump vs. if you get an infection?
If you have your implant for 8 years, then pump fails. You still have to pay for a new one.

[Gt1956]

Perhaps something similar happened to a family member. They had a stomach lap band installed. Around the 2 year mark it migrated into the stomach instead of surrounding it. It was removed at very little or no cost to them. Same surgeon & hospital did the removal.

[Agfa13]

But they still had to go through the same procedure to get the surgery, correct? *If* it was a different year, different insurance, and the insurance out of pocket expenses were 6K, but back then it only $250, the original surgery, will the warranty pay the 6K?

[Gt1956]

But they still had to go through the same procedure to get the surgery, correct? *If* it was a different year, different insurance, and the insurance out of pocket expenses were 6K, but back then it only $250, the original surgery, will the warranty pay the 6K?

In the family members case. There wasn't the long pre approval process. They're not sure about the co-pay. If they paid one it was very reasonable.
Same insurance, different year.

[TANGERINE]

With all this talk of warranties from AMS or Coloplast, why does it matter? .....you still gotta pay for it (or your insurance).....still going to cost some big bucks....still going to put up with the insurance company and all the crap that goes with it. .....
Someone care to enlighten me?
.

agree with all of your above statements...if the implant has a problem, you or your insurance will still end up having to pay money to get it fixed. It is just the way our health care system is setup.
The "warranty" people talk about is provided by the implant manufacturer (coloplast or AMS), so it really is only for the $8,000 cost for a replacement implant. Yes, that is a good thing, but I am not convinced that the cost saving will necesarily trickle down to you, the patient.

The bottom line, pray that you get a good ten years out of your implant.

I have sometimes made the analogy that the implant is somewhat like purchasing a cool sports car. They both cost the same (roughly 30K), they both improve your self esteem, and once the thing breaks, it is quite obvious to you whether or not it is worth it to re-up and purchase a new one !

[Waynetho]

I have seen in some cash-pay plans where they include revision insurance for x-years. Don't recall where I saw or but it's a program that offers several doctor/hospital options in the USA for cash-pay amounts in the $12,000-20,000 out of pocket range (give or take). With insurance-paid surgery though, revision warranty isn't typically available.

[jerseyhulk]

I’m going through the same thing. My AMS 700 LGX busted only after 4 years. Imagine feeling and hearing something like a firecracker going off inside your penis...not very fun. What makes it even worse was that I loved the implant and I’m having trouble getting it fixed. AMS wants you to pay the cost of the implant, which may be even more than when you originally bought it. Then they will reimburse you after the surgery which is bull$&@*! This only last 4 years!!! Now I have to pay out of pocket. I’m a 37 yo college student surviving on Ramon noodles and barely making enough to survive. What am I supposed to do with a busted implant. Am I able to use a VED device to maintain my penis without suffering atrophy? What the hell am I supposed to do? My current insurance refuses to cover it and the hospital will not help me without the surgery being paid in full upfront. I really feel hopeless...

[Biker60]

Depends what kind of insurance you have. I went to one of the High Volume implanters mentioned here. The office did not or does not submit the codes with your diagnosis. So I was denied because of employers exclusion. So it was fight and reschedule or pay 24k. With severe PD I was not looking for “sexual enhancement “ which is excluded. When I looked into. The said Drs office only submitted codes for implants. No reason why so denied. Went to 2 local implant surgeon. One wanted to do infrapubic with Ams and the other at a large city hospital system recommended titan because of PD. Had surgery 1/2 large city hospital did not ask for anything out of pocket. I think my copay is $500. Then on day of surgery local Ams office calls and said they got a ok to proceed. So long story short. The implants cost the hospital or surgicenter 8k. Both mark it up to pay for the facility expenses. Now since many insurances use Medicare as a standard. I think one high volume implanted mentioned who bills Medicare, can receive approx 16k and 1k for surgeon and 1k for anesthesiologists. Now if Dr is member in a surgicenter, he would receive much more since the device is sold to the facility. They mark it up from there. If you pay 24 to 30k that a lot of profit. Especially if Dr has ownership in center. So my understanding from an insurance analysis at big city hospital. If insurance paid to put it in, they should pay to replace as you have a pros ethic device that failed. Insurance is to make you whole again. I hope this helps.