Anyone Self-Pay????

I have given up on getting insurance approval after fighting for over 4 yrs! All of my policies have had written exclusions, so I am left going the self-pay route. I will either be going to Dr. Allen (whom I've seen before) or Dr. Rodriguez. Has anyone else gone the self-pay route? What did it end up costing for the lap gastric bypass? Lap band? Thanks so much!!

I'm thinking I might have to go the same route. I have to check the other insurane offered at work. If its a nogo I will probably take a Safe Harbor Medical hardship loan on my 401k. That will have to wait until sometime next year. I will fight with insurance long enough to get the amount I need built back up in the 401k to cover it. With the Safe Harbor you don't have to pay it back.

I took this info from the web site of Bluegrass Bariatric Surgical Associates in Georgetown, KY: "The all inclusive fee for laparoscopic gastric bypass is $23,203.25 with Advance payment. This amount includes: a pre-operative evaluation by a nurse practitioner and your surgeon (who will personally manage your post-operative care), seminars, support groups, dietary and exercise counseling, anesthesia, hospital stay, surgeon's fees, and one year of post-operative follow up. Pre-Op laboratory testing, chest X-ray, and EKG and medical evaluation (if needed) are also included in this fee, but are usually covered by insurance. The all inclusive fee for the adjustable LapBand is $17,939.25 with Advance payment and includes the banding device, free lifetime adjustments (usually $250 each), in addition to all the other inclusions mentioned above for laparoscopic gastric bypass. Prices include the hospital, surgeons and anesthesia fees, and a $250 program fee. The program fee is due at the time of your initial surgeon's consultation. These prices do not cover the cost of complications." I was a self pay for the lap band at G-town. I paid less than this because my insurance co. did pay their portions for the bloodwork, ekg, stress test, chest x-ray, pulmonary function and other tests ordered by my PCP for symptoms of "shortness of breath". I got a second mortgage to pay for it and have never looked back. It is one of the best things I have ever done for myself. I have lost 60 pounds in 15 months and still need to lose another 80, but I will do it with the help of the band. I really appreciate the way my band works to help me control my eating.

Thank you so much for the info. I am already a patient of Dr. Allen's so I'm going to stick with him. I have an appt with him on May 25th. After calling his office, the hospital (Norton's) and the anesthesiologist, I finally got the total price for both the lap band and lap RNY. They are about the same as the Georgetown doctors......the lap band is 17,100.00 and the gastric bypass RNY is 23,382.00. It really scares me doing self pay b/c of the risk of complications, but I have decided to take my chances and hope for the best!!! Thanks again, and congrats on your awesome weightloss!!!

I'm self-pay because insurance companies won't even insure me because of my weight. Like you, the risk of complications scares me horribly but the fear of deteriorating health and the desire to lose weight outweighs it. I'm going to Saint Joseph East in Lexington, KY for my surgery. I think the total, if I don't have to see a cardiologist or any other special testing, will be just under $20,000.00. Actually, I think it comes out under $19,000.00 but I don't remember the exact dollar amount. I'll be doing the RNY and hopefully they'll be able to do it laproscopically. (sp) I've heard very good things about the doctors there and the care the nurses give you before, during and after surgery. It just seems to be the right place for me. I'm not trying to sell you on them for sure as I know nothing except what others have told me. I go for my first appt. soon which will be the Internist, the Phsyc eval. and the Nutritionist. May God be with us all as we take this journey. Gale

I went the self pay route and was really glad that I did. It made it much the process much simpler and much faster. Lap band was $16,500 with Dr. Curry and was all inclusive - pre-op testing, office visits, and a year's worth of follow up care and fills. Best investment I've ever made. Best of luck to you. Monica Banded 10/14/05

Hi, Just wanted to drop a quick note...I self paid in the middle of Oct. I also had tried the insurance for 2 yrs only to find out they were not going to budge on the exclusion. My surgery ended up costing 20,000 dollars for the rny and I was back in the hosptial a week later...but good news to that my insurance picked up that emergency room bill even though it was from having the surgery. I am now almost 6 months out and down 145 lbs.(I still want to lose another 100 lbs) So, for me it was def. the right choice to make. I wish you the best of luck in your decison and remember you are the only one that knows what is right for you. If you ever have any question or want to chat let me know. Wishing you the best, Donna