Episode
#98 – Karim Hachem – How Do I Get My Jaw Surgery Covered by Insurance?
- Podcast
- JawHacks
- Published
- Jan 19, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 6681
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- http://jawhacks.local/episode/98-karim-hachem
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Summary
Ron sits down with Karim Hachem, co-founder of Suade Health. Karim shares his personal battle of getting reimbursed for out-of-network surgery and reveals the specific strategies patients need to use to avoid financial ruin when financing jaw surgery. They cover network gap exceptions, how to navigate denials for "experimental" airway expanders, and why an authorization letter doesn't guarantee you'll get a single penny back. Karim's Website (Suade Health) https://www.suade.health/about-us 1:1 Coaching with Ron (Now Inside The Joint) https://jawhacks.com/coaching JawHacks Newsletter (Substack) https://substack.com/@jawhacks And More on the Website https://jawhacks.com/ Chapters 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:30 - Can You Get Insurance for Out-of-Network Surgeons? 00:04:23 - How Insurance Turned $7,500 Into Zero (Karim's Story) 00:09:30 - The "Allowed Amount" Scam Explained 00:24:03 - Timeline: When to Start Your Insurance Strategy (60-90 Days) 00:27:57 - Network Gap Exceptions and Single Case Agreements 00:34:50 - Does Surgeon Choice Affect Approval? (Out-of-State Benefits) 00:37:49 - Open Enrollment Strategy: How to Pick the Right Plan 00:42:48 - Plan Challenges: Why Medicaid/HMO Plans Are Difficult 00:46:05 - Choosing Between PPO, EPO, and HMO Plans 00:56:11 - How Suede Health Works With Patients and Surgeons 01:16:24 - Medical Necessity Pathways: OSA and Malocclusion 01:26:49 - Getting Coverage for MARPE and Nasal-Maxillary Expanders 01:37:00 - Karim's Jaw Surgery Results: 21mm Advancement 01:41:20 - Life After Surgery: Cortisol, Sleep, Migraines, and ADHD Gone 01:45:50 - Final Thoughts: Is Jaw Surgery Worth It? NO MEDICAL OR DENTAL ADVICE. Ronald Ead and JAWHACKS, LLC, dba JawHacks (collectively, "we") does not give medical advice. We are not licensed medical professionals…