Letters From an Affluent Neighborhood: vol. 136
So I went to an Oral Surgeon's office today for a consultation today. Need my two remaining wisdom teeth out. While I was talking to the doctor, he said very nonchalantly that I could be asleep for the procedure.
Not interested. Don't know why, maybe it's due to a few influential people I've had in my life, but I've gotten a little squeamish about the concept of "being put under." Never used to bother me. But, upon learning how much anesthesiologists are paid, and just exactly why they need to know their shit cold, I started thinking I'd rather stay awake thank you very much.
Anyway, I said (as was apropos, very nonchalantly) to the doctor that I'd prefer to remain awake during the extraction. No problem. Good Novocaine, and I'll be set.
I got to the counter for scheduling, heard the doctor recount to the receptionist that I'd like to forego anesthesia, and she wrote down all the costs so I could see how it would break down. It was close to my $1400 yearly cap (of which insurance pays 80%). She handed me my appointment card with an instruction it, and reminded me not to eat or drink for 6 hours before the appointment. I said, "you mean because of the anesthesia?" She said yes. I told her I'd specified to the doctor that I don't want to be asleep for the procedure. She re-did all the numbers, and price dropped by one-third.
The thing is, I know receptionists make mistakes all over the country. However, in this area, it's just far too common that a $500 mistake just wouldn't get noticed. Because people around here wouldn't stop to pick it up if they dropped it.
Not interested. Don't know why, maybe it's due to a few influential people I've had in my life, but I've gotten a little squeamish about the concept of "being put under." Never used to bother me. But, upon learning how much anesthesiologists are paid, and just exactly why they need to know their shit cold, I started thinking I'd rather stay awake thank you very much.
Anyway, I said (as was apropos, very nonchalantly) to the doctor that I'd prefer to remain awake during the extraction. No problem. Good Novocaine, and I'll be set.
I got to the counter for scheduling, heard the doctor recount to the receptionist that I'd like to forego anesthesia, and she wrote down all the costs so I could see how it would break down. It was close to my $1400 yearly cap (of which insurance pays 80%). She handed me my appointment card with an instruction it, and reminded me not to eat or drink for 6 hours before the appointment. I said, "you mean because of the anesthesia?" She said yes. I told her I'd specified to the doctor that I don't want to be asleep for the procedure. She re-did all the numbers, and price dropped by one-third.
The thing is, I know receptionists make mistakes all over the country. However, in this area, it's just far too common that a $500 mistake just wouldn't get noticed. Because people around here wouldn't stop to pick it up if they dropped it.