Cash Pay Fears

Since my insurance company wont cover the gastric sleeve, I am prepared to do cash pay. But my biggest fear is that if I have a complication or need additoinal medical attention over time that my insurance company wont cover those situations either....I am afraid I will go in debt if something happens.

Does anyone have any advice? Or any info to calm my fears??

 Dr. B was also my surgeon and I was cash pay for my sleeve. I was released from the hospital the morning after surgery and I was stupid and didn't listen to Dr. B about how often I needed to be drinking water. I got behind on my fluids and had to be readmitted to the hospital 8 hours later due to dehydration. For my second visit to the hospital my insurance did cover my stay, all that had to be paid was the deductible. 

I guess I was more worried about what would happen IF I DIDN'T have the surgery, than with what if I had complications after paying cash!

Dr B was my surgeon, and I paid cash. I absolutely and confidently went into surgery KNOWING that I couldn't have any complications because I was paying cash and there was just no way I could be sidelined by them. I went in positive, left there even more positive, released in about 30 hours, went back to work in 5 days. Zero problems. 8+ months out now. FEEL GREAT, never had a bad day, as if it never happened.

I am not naive enough to not realize that things happen, especially in surgery, but it has SUCH A LOW incidence of complications to begin with, and if you do what your doctor prescribes you'll be FINE. Better than fine!

I had a complication and insurance paid for most of it.  All I was responsible for was deductible and the out of pocket percentage up to the total pay amount.  I think that was about $1200.

I'm on Healthchoice with the state.  They are notorious for not paying when they should so most other insurance should be better.  Standard disclaimer:  YMMV depending on the provider.

Like the other poster, I decided I was more in danger of complications from fat than complications from surgery.  It was just a risk management decision-nothing more.

Some of the conversations going on in your head "I'll go into debt, I caused this myself" are just good old what if what if fear of the unknown-and you have to take reasonable caution to manage probable risks, and tell the other stuff to take a hike and know you will deal with it IF and when it happens.

I'm probably the worst case scenario you'll hear from. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I feel better every day.

Dr. B. insisted I needed a second surgery. The anesthesiologist was about $1,200 extra. The hospital wrote down all but about $3,000. They're letting me pay it out monthly. Dr. B didn't charge anything else.

Talk to Dr. B. about it if you're really worried. I'll never forget him saying in his Louisiana accent, "Ax me anything."

I'm confident that I will live long enough to pay off the extra surgery & I think I can pay it out of the money I'm not spending on food.

Good luck. Think positive, but have a back up plan.