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SEARCH Search for keywords or confirmation numbers Addiction Allergy Alternative Medicine Cardiology Dentistry Dermatology Diabetes Ears, Nose, and Throat Endocrinology Family Practice Gastroenterology General Medicine General Surgery Hematology/Oncology Infectious Diseases Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Neurosurgery Nutrition Obstetrics and Gynecology Ophthalmology Orthopedics Pain Management Pediatrics Physical Therapy Plastic Surgery Podiatry Psychiatry Pulmonary Rheumatology Sleep Medicine Sports Medicine Urology Weight Loss     Question: I have a herniated disk C5-6 and need a cervical fusion. My insurance does not want to pay due to a pre-existing neck sprain, even though this is different. If insurance wont pay, is the surgeon required to perform the surgery anyway? Or do they want money up front? Answer: Dear Celeste, The surgeon is not obligated to do surgery on this non-emergent problem. Personally the cost for this surgery is almost prohibitive to be done as a self-pay procedure. Most insurances will try to deny payment however going over your particular policy would be the most prudent thing to do to see how long the pre-existing clause is in effect. Robert E. Abraham, MD Go back