Independent Health Ins.

I live in New York and my carrier is an HMO - a good one, I think, having never had a problem in the past with anything. However, they will approve a referral only to a physician who belongs to IHA (Dr. Posner), not the doctor that I want, Dr. Caruana, who has been doing them for several years, and who did my friend recently. I have heard wonderful things about him and with the seriousness of this surgery, I want the most experienced. Anyone know how to get around approving an "out-of-network" physician? (I thought it just meant that I would have to pay $1000 towards the bill insteady of having it paid in full). Thanks [email protected]

Out of network charges vary from insurer to insurer and from plan to plan. Check your specific SUMMARY PLAN DESCRIPTION for details. Good luck!