Outside the Box | The New Estimate with a Date

September 13, 2017

With the stormy trail of #IRMA barreling up through Georgia, the distraction was welcomed. I had a couple of days without making a decision. In reality, I had already made the decision to go through with the procedure; but, until dates are made, flights booked, checks sent, it's still a dream.
      Well, no more putting off.
     We received the new estimate from Meza yesterday. Through communication with Len since I had been out of power for a couple of days, they explained the changes and additions due to the one lost tooth in front, the broken post in another, the chip in another. With this comes the first lesson of this experience. The 2016 estimate - granted there was less to do - was about 10K less than the estimate we received today. Never put anything off to another day; it never comes to any good.
     Okay, so now we're talking more money, but it is still considerably less that having the work done in the states. From a financial and economic standpoint, there is only one choice. The work needed is just too extensive to approach any doctors here. I have had four implants, each one costing a minimum $5,000 each (office visit, x-rays, extraction, sedation, implant, crown). Each tooth. I have more holes than I have teeth and they will have to be replaced with an implant.
     Nothing is debatable here.
     Since we tackled financing first, we borrowed according to last year's estimate. We need more. We told Jose at the dental clinic,  and in order to get us to where we need to be, they offered a 10% discount if we pay via wire transfer. We are now within budget.
     This morning, I forwarded an email to Jose, the patient coordinator to confirm October 1 as our arrival date. Gasp.
     More papers are coming including a list of hotel partners that are particularly adept at working with medical tourists. We are booking Suites Cristina which we figure will provide us with space for me to recoup and work and Len to work remotely. Plus, a kitchen. And, Meza Dental books everything for us. 
     It's amazing how most hotels that we looked at before we received the list from Meza has as special page on their website for medical tourism. Medical tourism is big business in Costa Rica, and they embrace this fact. Not only for necessities like dental or vision or hip replacement but also for elective procedures that would not be covered by personal health insurance. According to International Living, more than 700,000 Americans make annual visits here.
     Another patient questionnaire this afternoon. Medical history and the like. The same you would see at your local GYN.
     I have forms to complete and a calendar to adjust. I'm going to Costa Rica.