Dr. C - Quick Question
Hi Natalie
My husband's insurance..(Humana PPO) also has an exclusion for WLS. Additionally I am over 55 and the FDA has made that the upper limit for WLS under most every ins policy. I am going to Mexico to have my surgery June 1. The doctor is Roberto Rumbaut, who is himself banded. He has done over 3000 of the lap band procedures. He is an expert in laproscopic surgery generally. The cash price is $10,600 whi*****ludes pre op, the surgery, one night in the hospital (san Jose in Monterey) and three nights in the hotel. Additionally you are picked up at the airport and taken either to the hospital for preop testing or to the hotel. So I am leaving on Wed. from CVG, arriving in Monterey at around 10:45 AM will have the preop testing in the afternoon and the surgery Thursday. Then there will be two more nights at the Hampton INN and flight home on Sunday.
I have found a fabulous Dr. In cinci to do the fills. He says he doesnt usually take "mexican" patients. I am a very careful educated woman. I have researched this Dr, spoken to his patient coordinator, whom he banded 6 years ago and who has maintained a 91 lb weight loss. The flight is $421 R/T on American. All this expense is deductible....i.e., that which exceeds 7.5% of your gross income. I cannot stand the weight on my hips and joints any longer. My BMI is about 35, which is on the low end, but Iam sick of he pain in my right knee, left hip and lower back. Go to google and type in Roberto Rumbaut. It is an affordable answer. I think the surgery at OSU for example is around $22k. I dont know what it is in the Cincinnati area, but I bet it is in that range or higher. Good Luck.
Nancy
Natlie,
The self pay price is $16,500 whi*****ludes surgery, anesthesia, and as many adjustments as you need for a year. There is financing available, and a lot of patients tell me that it's cheaper to make payments on their band than to pay for all their obesity related illnesses and medications.
Dr. C
Hi Natalie,
If you go to the LapBand forum on OH main board and read older posts, you'll discover many problems patients banded in Mexico have experienced. I'm not saying that you will have the same difficulties, but you need to take into consideration all the post-op expenses. You will need at the minimum 3 fills the first year. And, possibly, some unfills.
I had surgery on 2/16/06 and had 2 fills already. Sometimes, fills are done under x-ray because the tricky little port has a tendency to tilt. Sometimes band needs to be checked under the fluorio. I'm not sure how much this all comes up to because my ins has paid for it. But if you're concerned with the continuity of care (which is VERY important), and, while the accommodations in Mexico clinics are nicer than here, I would look seriuosly at the local doctors.
And, frankly, you cannot do better than Dr.Curry. The fact that he can be reached via e-mail, speaks for itself! And what happens when you get scared because of a little twitch somewhere? Believe me, it's scary! I know as a person who's had many surgeries, you'd want to have an easy access to your doctor
Good luck on your journey,
Rita
Oh wow it better be a big check..LOL
just kidding!!
I would definately check into things further --I have talked to a few folks who did have out of the country banding. One had complications, though these are rare they do happen...she couldn't find a doc to take care of her..nor could she find a doc to do her fills. In the long run this cost her tons more than she had ever expected,..she had to take out a larger loan on her house to fly back to Mexico and more time in the hosp/hotel..etc and now doesn't have fills because she can't afford to pay for them..
As someone who is a huge advocate of WLS..I have the opportunity to talk to alot of diffenent people and meet many of the surgeons..I would never send someone to a doc an hour away if there is a good one nearby, much less in another country..it's important to have the support ...as well as knowing my doc is right there for me just in case!! Having WLS surgery is the easy part...living with it after is the challenge..
I want a bariatric surgeon to take care of me and any surgery I may have in the future..gall bladder...the dreaded hernia (which I have and will be taking care of soon)..etc. I am just comforted knowing there is a surgeon nearby I can call in the middle of the night if I am in pain or am worried.
Brenda
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