Cost prohibitive

[Mulliganplummer]

Brand new here, I am sorry if this had been asked before.

So Kaiser will not cover penile implants, so now it is up to me to pay for it. I am constantly seeing figures like $20,000 out the door cost. Is that what others are seeing? I can safe for that, but I am worsening if going abroad is an option. I see advertisements for surgery in Mexico, any thought. Same thing with Turkey, any thoughts? Can Americans go to Canada? Any states better priced than others?

I went to Mexico for dental work and the costs were great and the facility top notch. Is this an option?

I am NOT looking for the cheapest just to get it do, this is my penis and I want quality work and will pay for it, just looking if there is quality that might not be on the US.

[equusAz]

Is your insurer provided by your employer? Do you have options of changing plans and insurers if so at the end of the enrollment period? Is it possible for you to get your own insurance to help defray the costs?

IMO insurance comapnies in the US are absolutely vile. The fact that they won't cover something that is medically required for a fully functioning life is ludicrous.

[GoodWood]

I know that there are medical facilities in Thailand, Vietnam, India (and other places I’m sure) that focus their business on cash paying patients from abroad. Open heart surgery and joint replacement surgeries in top notch facilities with surgeons that were trained in the US and Europe. I’m guessing that penile implant surgeons are among them too. Unfortunately I’m not familiar with them. Perhaps other guys here will be.

While you are saving explore your options for switching insurance plans to one that will cover the procedure. Ask to see the policies that are available to you and read the exclusions page. For example, my insurance policy exclusion page said they do not cover treatment for erectile dysfunction EXCEPT FOR surgical implantation of penile prosthesis for erectile dysfunction. So there was an exception to the exception.

Mine was covered but even still I had a co-pay portion that is ending up being around $6000.

And research all the surgeons available to you at all the price points. I would rather pay $25,000 for a top notch high volume surgeon than $15,000 for one that mainly does prostate procedures and kidney stones. It is a significant amount of money but as you said, it’s important.

[LetoMan]

Just weighing in to note that Kaiser covered/did mine in Northern California.