Help, Want to pay cash

Please help, I have been turned down by insurance x2 and desperately want to have this surgury as soon as possible. I have been in appeal for over a year. I am considering going to Brazil for surgury but if can get the same rate somewhere here would be easier. Does anyone know what various clinics will do? Jo

Since you're on the web, go to the various websites of the facilities/surgeons who offer bariatric surgery. Most give an estimate for services. Granted this is an estimate, but you can compare it to what you'd be spending in a foreign country.

Hello Roberta, I know you must be getting so frustrated.... There is a very knowlegable woman on here who would help you out. Her name is Dina McBride, and you can see her profile on here http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=M992110519 she has a website also... http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Dina/dina.html She is a fantastic person...so very sweet, she will tell you all about her experiences and she is always trying to help people who are thinking about going to another country and paying out of pocket. I hope i have helped you.. take care Kim

Hi, Dr. Wheeler did my surgery in Ashland, KY at King's Daughters Medical Center. Just my surgery alone, that's counting the hospital charges, anethesia, Dr. Wheeler, and his assistant Dr. Tompkins, my surgery was an estimate of 38,200.00. My hospital was almost 17,000.00 by itself, Dr. Wheeler charged 10,000.00 to do it, and anethesia was 1,200.00. Then after everything was paid, Dr. Tompkins sent in a bill for another 10,000.00 because he assisted Dr. Wheeler with my surgery. That total is not counting all of the pre-surgery testing, which is very intensive. I had a colonoscopy, EMG (tube down throat), stress test, sleep study, ultrasounds, psych eval, etc... (there's more, just can't remember it all). Now my mother had the same surgery at Holzer Medical Center in Gallipolis, OH in Nov. of 2002. She received 1 bill for the entire stay and surgery and Dr.'s fees. It was a whopping total of 12,000.00. That's a big difference (26,200.00) between mine and hers. She had an open procedure and mine was laproscopic. She had her gallbladder removed, I didn't (I wish he would've taken out mine, because I've been on a gallstone medicine to help prevent gallstones for the past 5 months $$$) She stayed the first night in ICU, I didn't. She stayed 3 nights in hospital, I only stayed 2. My suggestion, look into "Clinics" that do the surgery, such as Holzer. Her Dr.'s name was Caniday (probably not spelled correctly). As much as I love Dr. Wheeler, if I knew the price difference was that big, I would've had it done at Holzer also. My biggest drawback with Holzer, was at the time they did not offer laproscopic, but I'm almost positive that they do now. My surgery was on Dec. 30, 2003, I've lost 116lbs. My mom has lost 125lbs. She just had a tummy tuck done this past Tuesday, at the Holzer Clinic in Jackson. If her insurance doesn't cover it, it is only going to cost her 5,500.00. It was a same day surgery. I hope that helps you some. Try a "Clinic" if you are going to have to pay ca****hink they will even set up a payment plan with you. Linda

I know many doctors give self-pays a discount. You didn't say which surgery you were hoping to have.

Hello Roberta, My name is John Turner. I am 14 days post-op and I am feeling great. I also paid cash for my surgery. I live in northern Kentucky, and found Advanced Bariatric Centers. The e-mail is [email protected]. The total amount for the RNY procedure was $19,000.00. This includes hospital stay, surgeon fee, anesthesis, etc. Dr. Dwayne Smith is an excellent surgeon and I am feeling great. I knew my insurance company did not cover this procedure, so I searched for practices that allowed cash payments. Dr. Smith's office is located at 20 Medical Village Drive,#105, Edgewood, KY 41017. Phone (859)426-4741, and their fax is (859)426-7010. I hope you research this option and find it helpful. I am so happy with my results. I am returning to work only 2 weeks after my surgery. I can already see results, and so can my family and friends. I wish you the best of luck. If you have any other questions, please e mail me at [email protected]. Your Friend, John Turner