Lap band/Self Pay

Anyone have an idea of the self pay prices?  My insurance would not cover, so I was just wondering if it would be something that I could swing??????? Thanks

It is so good to see you on the board this morning!  Have you exhausted the appeal process?  Until that is done, don't give up on your insurance paying.  I know prices differ for self pay and there are financing options.   Please make sure with the insurance appeals before you mortgage the farm. Happy Thanksgiving! Diane

I'm afraid that I can't answer your question, but you might also try xposting your question to the main forum, lapband forum and even the insurance forum. The bigger net you throw the more fish you might catch ;-).

Good luck.

Barb

Hi Whenever I think of all the complications I had with my surgery, I think of the folks who are self-pay.  Please, in your considerations, think about the possibilities of complications arising which can make the self-pay option a nightmare!  I was very grateful to have insurance.  And of course I never dreamed that I would have complications. Just a thought...

Lap-Band can be done anywhere from 15,000 - 18,000 just call and ask the surgeons offices. Most of the time that will include one year follow up w/ the surgeon.  The complication rate for the lap-band is very minimal, it can happen so she is right becareful....most self-pays will just have to pay the hospital portion as the surgeon's fees are included even if anything goes wrong for that first year. Good Luck in your search!

I self-paid 10/17/07 for my new AP-s lap-band and it was around what Kim said.  My doctor is Dr. David Voellinger in Charlotte.  I had gone through 12 months, +40 lbs with great Obesity Center lawyers and I still lost the appeal (another long story).   I looked at many alternatives and I know that I had the very best exsperence I could have had.  My surgery was complicated (as I knew going into it) but when my more than 2 hour OR was over at Mercy hospital, I did not even have a bruse...I am serious.   His office and personal concern for each of his patients is world-class.  I have already had my 2nd fill 4 weeks out and am doing outstanding.  This is my second band (1st from Duke WLS center) and I promise you that Dr. Voellinger is by far the best...and more than worth the 2 hour trip for me to get to his office. I wish you equally as good an exsperence.

Hi Judy, I went to your website and gotta say, you are absolutely beautiful!  Your family must be very proud.   Blessings, Diane

If you just can't swing the 15-18000.00 there is always the option to have it done across the border. I had my surgery in Mexico, excellent care, no complications,and paid only 8200.00. I have my follow up care and fills with Fill Centers, there great, and modestly priced.

Tameria

Also, be aware that just because you want the band doesn't mean you are a good candidate.  I thought that's what I wanted but was told by 2 docs that because of some conditions (like my hiatal hernia) I wasn't a good candidate and probably wouldn't have good results.  It also depends on how much weight you need to lose.  Typically, w/out other conditions, the band is best option for folks with smaller amounts to lose. Keep doing your homework and you'll find the right solution for you!

I had no lap band coverage through my employer (a large self-insured corporation with an iron clad benefits contract), so after speaking with many bariatric surgical practices in NC, GA & FL and doing extensive research, I ended up going with Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum in Denver CO.  Here's the website www.lapbandrockies.com.  My total cost, excluding travel, was $9950 whi*****ludes nutritionist, surgeon, hospital, anesthesia, support group, pre and post op care, fills for 3 months and then $15 per fill thereafter.  No hidden charges or "program fees".  Dr. K's uses a surgical center that is within a hospital but is considered free-standing  (and therefore is used for elective surgery, no indigent care, etc., so it's less costly)  The hospitals are very powerful entities in NC, so no surgeon is doing the lap band in a surgery center at this point (or at least they weren't in 9/07).    This surgery is very low in terms of complications risk -- so is a huge money maker for the hospitals -- why should they allow it to be done in a surgery center and cut into their profits?  As more consumers go out of state or out of country to have surgery, perhaps this will change.  I'm sure it's frustrating for the  NC surgeons -- their fees are comparable with the others; it's the hosptials who are being the cash cows here.  Anyway, this was the best surgical experience I've ever had; excellent care in a top-notch facility.  I use Dr. Ahigian in Denver NC for aftercare $155 per fill because it's less of a headache than going back to CO, but I'll go back for my one year bandiversary!  Good luck in your journey!  Edited to add:  I also spoke with Dr. Vollinger's office and they were great!  I think I actually spoke with an employee named Kim and I think she is banded and posts on OH.  They seemed like a great practice.  I actually had a consultation appointment with Dr. Bauman in Concord and more than one phone conversation with Dr. Fernandez in Winston-Salem.  I believe that any of these surgeons are top-notch and I would have gladly had surgery by any of them.  Unfortunately, the hospitals where they perform surgery charge in the neighborhood of $12K, not including anesthesia, and I just wouldn't do that .  I'm a nurse case manager and I just couldn't spend my hard earned health care dollars that way.