“It’s Just a Knee,” My Mother Said as They Changed My Appointment—The Cost of That Decision Shocked Them

shock. “Let’s do it.”

Dr. Wu hesitated. “There’s a complication. University insurance covers eighty percent, but because the surgery requires a specific specialist and high-end hardware for an athlete of your caliber, there’s an out-of-pocket deductible and specialist fees that need to be paid upfront. You don’t have credit history strong enough to continue reading …