cost of self pay surgery?

Hi everyone, It's starting to look as if I want to make this dream a reality, it's going to have to come out of my own pocket (or the banks to be more exact). I had my consultation at the BTC in Columbus. I felt quite comfortable there, but as I may be financing the surgery myself, I need to check around and compair costs as well as reputation.....shopping for bargain surgery.....has kind of a bad ring to it, doesn't it? Lol. Has anyone out there had to self pay? I'm trying to find out if all the hospitals charge about the same for the surgery (I was to have open RNY at the BTC,) or just how much they vary. I would appreciate any information on self pay surgery that anyone could give me. Thanks, and good luck to all of you! L

A year ago before my Insurance approved it I considered self pay. With Dr. McGuire it was $15,000 for an Open RNY. I switched Doctors to Dr. Martin (no particular reason) and my insurance is paying for it this year.

My doctor in Cincinnati charges $17500 for Lap RNY.

For cash patients: Mt Carmel: $10,000 Surgeon Lap: $3500 Open: $3000

I am fighting my insurance MMOH, I am going to CCBS at St Vincents in Cleveland. I was told up front that I will need 10k for the hospital, 3k for the primary surgeon and 1k for the second. There were will additional charges (pain meds, anesthsia). I plan to borrow against my 401K to come up with some of the cash.

L. Just wanted to give you an FYI the cash pay price at BTC includes a lifetime of follow up and nutritional care. Even if you move across the country they have hospitals in OH, AZ, IL., TX,MI and PA where you can go for visits. They have also performed 22,000 RYN surgeries, something that bargain centers will not be able to offer.

I agree with Theresa. Check into what you are getting from other places. Many other public facilities push you out of the hospital because the need the beds. This doesn't happen at BTC because they are private. I have many friends who have been to BTC in Ypsilanti MI and they loved it. You don't have to deal with the problems of a normal hospital. BTC's staff has the most experience in the country in dealing with morbidly obese patients. They have equipment that will accomodate people up to 750 lbs (what other facility can say that!). They are the best.