Glad I helped brighten your day 
It’s also good to know you’ve seen a specialist who’s on the same page as I am! 
I live in Michigan and was considering calling Dr. Artz, could you please tell me a little about your experience with him. I was told by Dr. Bojrab’s office that he did not treat Eagles nor does he do Styloidectomy surgery. His office reffered me to a Dr. Stachler in West Bloomfiled and when I called his office, they told me that he refers patients to Dr. Mark Prince at U of M. There is a five month wait to see him. I also have Jugular Vein Compression, I’m hoping I don’t wait five months to see Dr. Prince at UofM just to find out that he doesn’t do the surgery. The lady who anwered the phone says he does but I’ve been told that before at various offices only to find out later that it wasn’t true.
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@Chromechaser66 hasn’t been on for a bit, so he may not answer you, I’ve had a quick search in the past discussions & it doesn’t seem like anyone’s mentioned seeing Dr Artz recently… If you have IJV compression it’s certainly worth being even more careful who you see for surgery, are you able to travel further afield otherwise? Quite a few members have had surgery with Dr Costantino in NY for example, & he’s experienced with vascular ES…
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@Jules, Thanks for the reply! Right now I have an HMO - Blue Care Network of Michigan. I don’t see my insurance listed on any of the out of state surgeon’s websites. I guess I have to look into it further to see if any out of state surgeon would accept my insurance. I turn 65 in September and will be going on a Medicare Advantage plan and I’ve seen Medicare plans accepted on some surgeon’s websites.
We’ve had a few members who have had to see someone with more experience out of their network, they’ve appealed & fought for that, it’s not easy, but they have got there in the end, so maybe if the local doctors aren’t helpful it might be possible before September, but good you’ve got that possibility if not 
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@Joyful - From what I understand Medicare Advantage is also an HMO plan which will limit the doctors you can see to those on the Advantage plan just as your current HMO does. I am on regular Medicare & can see any doctor who takes Medicare that I choose to see. You might want to consider that before choosing Medicare Advantage.
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Thanks for letting me know, my husband’s employer at the Fire Dept. picks up and pays for the plan automatically when we turn 65 so I have to look into it further. It’s part of his retirement benefit package when he turns 65 that they pick up the cost for that for life for both of us.
Edit: Great news, I just called the my husband’s benefits coordinator and it’s not actually an advantage plan. It’s a G Plan and there are no referrals or anything like an HMO would have. He said if I wait until Sept. 1st to get the surgery I will owe almost nothing, that the coverage is that good. I’m not very patient (as I should be according to my faith) and living with these symptoms until September is hard for me to think about.
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Maybe one of our US members can say whether this is possible or not, but some of the doctors experienced with vascular ES are very much in demand, so do have long waiting times, I wonder if it would be possible or worth getting a referral well before September so that if there’s a few months’ wait you’d have your new insurance in place by the time you get to see the doctor?
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Great idea, I’ll look into it. I’ve been calling a few of the doctors that were recommended and haven’t been greeted well by their staff. I’m waiting on two call backs I thought I would get today, but nothing. You’d think the staff would be kinder to those with medical issues, I know I would.
That is truly great news! I’ve found that Medicare has paid for the the surgeries I’ve had since I’ve been on that program. The only thing you need to be aware of is not all doctors are Medicare providers. You can still see them, but you may need to pay more out of pocket if you do. I believe the doctors on our forum who deal with vascular ES are all Medicare providers so that’s more good news!
Another option along the lines of what @Jules mentioned would be to have your initial consult prior to Sept 1 w/ the surgeon you think you’ll have do your surgery & pay out of pocket for it then have your surgery scheduled post Sept. 1. Several surgeons now are not accepting insurance payments for initial consults so the cost is paid in full by the patient anyway.
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