Upfront fees

I am considering having the VSG surgery.  It seems as if all the surgeons require an upfront payment of some sort.  I do have BCBS - PPO that will cover the surgery.  I just dont have the out-of-pocket money available. My BCBS insurance is ending at the end of this month and then I go back to HAP which I no wont cover the surgery. Any suggestions?  I do want a surgeon who does the surgery laprascopically - and I do have one picked out.  I just dont know what to do about the upfront costs. Help!!!

Can you put them on a credit card?  I don't know if you even have enough time for the surgery since your insurance is ending at the end of the month.  There are a lot of pre-surgery things that need to be done and 1/2 month is not enough time to get the testing, psychological evals and other things necessary.

Why do you say you know that HAP will not pay for your surgery?  They paid for mine, and they also paid for my tummy tuck after.  I did have a $1000 co-pay for the WLS, but that was the only thing that I paid for.  Even with that, it is December 7th and odds that your surgery will be able to to be done before the end of this month when your BCBS-PPO ends is slim or none, especially if you are only in the considering stage.  Good luck, if it is meant to be, you will find a way.    Carol

I am also considering the VSG surgery but haven't  made any appointments yet as I am still in the 12 month supervised diet stage.  Counting December I still have 5 months to go.   What type of upfront fee is required?  I had just assumed that BCBS - PPO would cover all but my deductible.

I borrowed against my 401K at work and then I am having them take monthly installments out of my paycheck for a period of time. This worked out nice for me as I had almost  $1500 out of pocket that was the pre and post op diet and the surgeon's fee. (none of it went toward my deductible or qualified) I have Priority Health HMO.  Just another idea of where maybe you could get the $$$ from. Good luck and happy thoughts. Cathi

Hi, I don't want to sound stupid, but what is vsg surgery?  Is that something you have to have up front to have my lap band surgery?    Lyndalee

Lyndalee............. it's another form of Bariatric surgery to have done. It has nothing to do with you having Lap-Band