Self-Payers...help me

Hey everybody... It looks like I'm going to have to go the self-pay route to get this surgery done. Not cool. Anyway. I would like to hear from self-payers how much they ended up paying TOTAL for just the bypass surgery. Also...which surgeons in Iowa do RNY lap? Thanks so much for everyone's help! Donna

Donna, OUCH!! Self-pay is going to hurt! I have insurance coverage, so I cannot help you with the amount to expect, but I can tell you that many places with work out a payment plan with you (before surgery). I do have an answer to the second part of your question. Dr. Phelps in Davenport IA does the lap RNY. The office number is toll-free 866-301-8361 and is located on the Genesis Medical Center campus. By the way, my understanding is that laparascopic procedure is quite a bit pricier than the open. Good luck to you. ~Nicole

Donna: I am going with Dr, Glas**** in Cedar Falls. He did say at his seminar that it would be as much as $25,000. I am a banker and I would sugesst getting some type of home equity or line of credit if you qualify for that. That may be an option for you. Good luck Kathy

Donna, I believe that most of the surgeons around here now do lap, however, the difference is in how they got their training. Would you believe that they can get trained to do lap in just a weekend? Many go that route. There are a few that are got their training in a fellowship, trainng under the supervision of excellent surgeons for many months. Dr Glas**** is one (Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery Fellowship completed at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA. ), so is his partner, Dr Shah. Dr Shah is even a clinical instructor in minimally invasive/bariatric/robotic surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. I imagine that there are more but I don't know who they are. I am not saying that the ones who get the weekend training are inferior. As a matter of fact, I believe that Dr Glas**** is involved in teaching them. And as far as open being less costly, you need to consider the length of the hospital stay. I do know that you normally stay in the hospital longer if you have it open (4-5 vs 2 days) and that would definately increase your costs. I'd definatly ask since you'll be paying. If it is cheaper, that may be the way to go. Dixie Dixie

the Barix clinic in Belvidere IL charges $25,000 all inclusive for lap RNY. I had my surgery there. That amount also covers after care. I live in Iowa too and traveled there because of my doctors recommendation. He says they are the best.