Self Pay

I was turned down my insurence 3 times (Not enough proof of a 2 year medical weight loss --I moved alot!) and I am thinking about doing self pay...Has anyone had any experience with it? I will have a few thousand for a down payment--but will need to finance the rest. I am a little worried about going somewhere because it is a "bargin" since it is my health. Any info would be nice---you can e-mail me if you don't want to post your info. [email protected]

Danielle, I am a self pay. I have been doing my research for WLS for over 2 years. I had BC/BS and they droped me and so here I am self pay. I had a date to go to Mexico back in Sep. But my Fathers health was not so good so he beged me to stay here in USA. I still would go. I would recomend that surgeon to any one Dr. A. I have talked to so many people here on OH. Go to South of the boarder board and you can find out more info. I am having surgery on March/22 and I am paying cash in the amount of $7,500 to surgeon and $15,000 to Hospital.That dose not include all the extras,Like Blood test,Dr.Visits,Psych Eval,Nut Eval and so on. Mexico with Dr.A includeing air and transportationg should run about $10,500 Good Luck I hope that I have helped. Contact me with any questions. CHER

I really, really caution you about going to Mexico. You may not find a doctor back in the US to treat you when you come home. There is a girl on Spot Light Health (SLH) (she had a revision from LapBand to RNY) that went to Dr Aguirre in Mexico and she had a hard time finding a doctor to take her drain and stitches out when she came home. She had a hard time finding a PCP near her home that would help her at home, one that was knowledgable in WLS to just get her by with the day to day PO life and the general recovery. She lives in a large metro area, Seattle so there are WLS doctors there, doctors that are knowledgable. She has no support for questions or nutrition when she got home. She had to make an appointment and pay out of her own pocket for a nutritionist this week to help her with her new PO life. She has asked tons of questions on SLH, general everyday questions that would be asked of a surgeron that you would go to here in the US that would be easily answered with a simple phone call. You will not have that benefit if you go out of the US for surgery. Just remember if you have complications after you get home from being out of the country for surgery you may not find a surgeon here that will touch or help you here. Think of the bad side also, what if you have complications right after your surgery in Mexico? Think of the cost (find out if your insurance will cover you for that before you go) and do you really want to be that far from home and really good doctors at that time?

I'm self paying for my lapband, but its only 15k, and I had 10k saved up for my wedding, so I'm just using that and then taking out a 5k loan. I'd rather be healthy than have a big wedding. I'm having mine done in Chicago, so I'll have lots of support. I know lots of folks get the lapband in Mexico (there's a yahoo group), but I was just wary about it. And, since a year of aftercare (all fills) are included in the 15k, I don't think it'll turn out much more expensive.

What clinic did you go to?

Danielle, Contact Barix Clinics. They did my surgery. I was not self-pay - but this was because they hired an attorney to fight for me. In addition, they were incredibly willing to work with me for monthly payments to pay my share (what the insurance company didn't cover). They didn't charge me interest for the amount I owe, and willingly set up monthly payments. My surgeon was wonderful, the hospital staff was wonderful, and the experience on the whole was very good. I am willing to bet they will work with you to make surgery a reality! Good Luck!

Danielle, I know alot of people are dogging Wish Center in regards to insurance aspects but I really have to tell you they are so wonderful to me! I am a self pay patient and they wrote off money here and there. I haven't had my surgery yet but I am very pleased with them. The Lap Band is $10,700 (INCLUDES EVERYTHING) and I think the RNY is $2?,000 I am not sure because I am having the Lap Band.They are in Downers Grove and are wonderful. You can check them out at Wishcenter.org Oh yeah the Doctors are wonderful and the care you are given is phenominal your first appointment is 5-6 hours because they go over everything with you. They also give you goals to meet prior to surgery because they do not want you to fail! Good Luck Charlene

I was "self pay"! My surgery was about $21,000. I knew prior to my surgery that Gastric Bypass would not be convered. My bennefits coordinator kind of helped me with what to say to the hospital--she told me to tell the hospital to submit to insurance but not tell them it would be denied (The hospital would not perform the procedure unless PIF if not covered by insurance). When I was in the billing dept. the day before surgery for pre-admitting I just played ignorant. The billing dept kept telling me they needed an approval number from my insurance and I told them that my bennefits coordinator told me that they needed to submit to insurance. About 1 month after surgery I got a bill from the hosptial & called the billing department and set up payment arrangements for $200 a month until PIF. I pay no interest either. I felt bad for being deceptive but I am paying them. I look at it as like a car payment with bennefits that last a life time. Its been 2 years April 18th and I am so glad I had the surgery. Best of luck to you!!! Mary