Does anyone know of someone who has has their jaw advanced for treating[B] sleep apnea. My wife needs it done and her Doc(Dr LI at Stanford) did this procedure for a Delta pilot recently and it was covered(out of Network). We are having a battle with UHC and so far it is denied. Anybody know of a Delta guy who had this done. He would have not been able to eat or talk for at least a month. Wife says that is not funny. Any DAL guy/girl know anyone?

 

A gate agent friend of mine had it done. Not sure of the details of coverage and it was several years ago anyway. Very painful initially as well as the recovery and it ended up making zero difference. He later found (by researching it after the fact...doh!) that there is a contingent in the medical community that drives people towards certain prodecures robotically and regardless of the true individual need for them or of the effectiveness of the procedures as long as the "candidate" meets minimum requirements for it. Basically if you have apnea, many doctors will reflexively steer you towards that route even though the outcomes may not be what they imply once you research it. I'd look long and hard at all the options and be very biased towards not going that route without substantial research as well as at least hearing what the anti jaw surgery for sleep apnea medical community has to say about it. But that's just me.

 

Heyas Trash,

You really need to contact the DALPA R&I guys.

Nu

 

Exactly, you pay dues and they do a outstanding job.

 

I'm not with Delta, but I had this procedure done two years ago. PM me and I'll be happy to fill you in on the details, (pain, recovery, benefit, regrets, etc).

 

Don't know about the insurance side, but I did have a UPPP done about 6 years ago to correct apnea. They basically took out the dangly parts and moved the soft palate to open the airway.

It worked and the FAA is happy after "passing" the sleep study overnighter.

Don't know if this an option for you, but thought I'd put it on the table.

PM if you have any Q's.

 

How long did recovery from the surgery take?

 

FYI......

My girlfriend works for a residential mental health facility in Minneapolis.....The facility will not accept any clients covered under UHC......

My sister does medical billing in Alaska and a similar situation exists.....

It's really funny, their order of insurance crappiness is;

1) Signa/Aetna
2) UHC

If they do approve the procedure, record the phone conversation and get the specifics in writing. These are mandatory steps for UHC.

 

Where do I sign my kids up?

 

Over night in the hospital with an O2 sats monitor to ensure the airway does not collapse, then about a week at home.