Self-pay questions.

Hello,

I am going to have to self-pay for my bariatric surgery. (Looks like it'll be with Dr. Baker in Little Rock. Just need to take the plunge and right the checks.)

Anyone else have some experience or tips to share about self-pay? Things that you wish you would have done differently? Got surprised come tax time? Borrowed from your 401k? Used your HSA to pay the monthly note?

Any insight anyone has into this is greatly appreciated. Having to finance something as expensive as a car has me worried.

Chad Ballay
Pea Ridge, Arkansas

I self paid and the one thing that shocked me was not everything was included... I had 2 more bills come about 2 months after my lap band surgery (not to mention the $800 for labs prior to surgery)  Also check the aftercare- how much of that is covered by your Dr.  Its funny cos most people would never blink at financing a +-$20K car... In fact its getting harder to get a car for less than that... yet we worry doing something that will better our lives...  Good luck on your adventure.. Susan

One of my aunts did self-pay with Dr. Baker last year.  I believe the price was all-inclusive for around $16,500. They won't let you "write the check".  They require a cashier's check up front for the full amount.   I would make sure that they still include everything.  Insurance paid for mine, but I have seen the bill for the hospital pre-admission lab.  All they did was draw blood twice and they billed my insurance $1800.   So it is DEFINATELY important to make sure EVERYTHING is included, including all pre-op blood work done at the hospital.