Cornell Doctors – Need Your Opinion

As some of you may know already, my current RE sent me for a 2nd opinion after a failed IVF, and mentioned Cornell as one of the place. (As a background story, we are dealing with egg issues & MF.)

I checked some postings on this board, and it seems like Dr. Rosenwaks and Dr. Davis are the better / popular ones. But unfortunately, they do not accept my insurance. However, there are other doctors in Cornell that does accept my insurance: Chung, Goldschlag, Kang, Kligman, Schoyer, and Spandorfer.

I can pay out of pocket to see Dr. Rosenwask or Davis for a 2nd option only (because I can’t see myself paying out of pocket to use them as my RE), or see one of the doctors that does accept my insurance and maybe using one as my RE.

Here are my questions –
1. Would you pay out of pocket for a 2nd opinion from Dr. Rosenwaks or Davis, or you would see any other RE that accepts my insurance?
2. If you use Cornell and have seen one/multiple REs that accepts my insurance (Chung, Goldschlag, Kang, Kligman, Schoyer, or Spandorfer), which one would you suggest? And how was your experience with them?
3. I have heard if we end up doing IVF with Cornell, even though the RE accepts our insurance, we still have to pay the IVF cost up front, and then file a claim with our insurance. Is it true?

Thank you all very much in advance.

Re: Cornell Doctors – Need Your Opinion

I think I can help with #3....

If the doctor you see is participating with your insurance he CAN NOT have you pay up front. You are only responsible to pay for your copay and maybe your coinsurance/deductible if you know what it is......IF the office tells you that you have to pay than contact your insurance company to confirm...but I do believe that if the doc is in your plan they can not ask you for money up front.....

Re: Cornell Doctors – Need Your Opinion

Re: Cornell Doctors – Need Your Opinion

Re: Cornell Doctors – Need Your Opinion

The doctors are different from the center as far as insurance goes.

Right now the center only accepts Oxford Freedom and United Healthcare.

I see Dr. Davis. I paid out of network to see him and I have UHC. I won't have to pay up front to cycle.

My cousin saw Dr. Kligman and loved him. You end up seeing a lot of the doctors there for monitoring but just your RE.

All of the docs there are top rated. Rosenzwaks doesn't do IVF anymore, only consults I believe.

Re: Cornell Doctors – Need Your Opinion

Thank you ladies.

I am very interested to know my diagnosis as well… I had a failed IVF cycle in Dec. I had 8 eggs retrieved, and none matured. Besides non-matured eggs, the zona (outer region of the egg) has projections. My current RE is not confident if another IVF with different drugs will bring me better results. Besides my issue, we have MF as well.

I do have UHC, and it is so comforting knowing the center take it. Does that mean that I am covered for lab work + sono? Then if I use one of the RE who accepts my insurance, besides co-pays, what else do I have to pay out of pocket?

Re: Cornell Doctors – Need Your Opinion

I only had to pay Davis for the consult out of network. His fee was $500 I think. So 70% was covered. I don't remember exactly.

Everything else is submitted to the insurance company. There are no co-pays I don't think. That's what I understand. Blood and sonos are covered under the regular medical part of my insurance not the IF part. That's just my insurance plan.

Go see one of the docs. They are the #2 clinic in the country only out ranked by one in Colorado.
They docs are all good and on the cutting edge. You will be impressed at the level of professionalism and care. I know I was and it was the second clinic I went to.

Re: Cornell Doctors – Need Your Opinion

I see Dr. Chung. I chose him because he accepts my insurance so I'm covered for office visits, etc... but my insurance doesn't cover IVF so I have to pay out of pocket.
I love Dr. Chung and would highly recommend him.

Re: Cornell Doctors – Need Your Opinion

I can't help w/ the insurance questions, but I can tell you that I saw Dr. Goldschlag & loved him. I wish I could continue seeing him instead of going back to my OB! He's very patient, always makes sure we understand everything...when I had surgery, he told us to page him if there was an emergency, and tell the service it was a personal call so that it would go directly to him, and not the dr. - on-call. Just really impressed with his methods.

Re: Cornell Doctors – Need Your Opinion

just so you know...Kang and Shoyer and "new"

I've seen them since they were fellows

It sounds like your issue is something that you might be better off dealing with one of the more "seasoned" RE's

Re: Cornell Doctors – Need Your Opinion

Thank you all for the replies!!!