Hi @scottrl
Thanks for your message.
My husband is scheduled to have cataract extraction on Wednesday, and I arranged this as a private client since our HMO denied my request for an out of network referral.
In a nutshell, we had a consult call with an Opthalmologist about six weeks after he saw the optometrist. She informed us the waiting time was nine months or more. I expressed concern so she put us on a cancellation list, which wasn't satisfying.
On October 24, Opthalmology had a cancellation and offered cataract surgery on Nov. 7, but that required two airplane trips to Honolulu prior to the 7th and an overnight stay there the date of the surgery.
In talking to my husband, and knowing his routines, his need to rest throughout the day, his aversion to loud noises, crowds, etc. I decided it was in his best interest to get the surgery locally and avoid the stress of all that travel, added to the medical procedures, in such a short time.
There is a good Opthalmologist here, with an office and surgery center a ten minute drive from our house. The cost is about $6,000.00 for one eye.
I'm very disappointed with our HMO for denying the request because they "offer Opthalmology Services."
Really???
I will post again after the surgery.
Again, thank you for your concern,
Teri