Hidden costs of surgery--are you prepared?

Something has been on my mind for a few days now.  I hope I am not creating a sticky wicket, but if I do, it won't be for the first time, and I bring this up so that all preops can really be prepared for their futures.

When I was a preop, I was focused on "how to pay for surgery" as most preops are.  I knew from the onset that my insurance had an exclusion, so I knew that I had to selfpay.  Many preops do have insurance coverage though.  So, the expense of the surgery is considerably less than I paid, if not free.  But, that is only the beginning. 

There are expenses related to this surgery that we will pay for the rest of our lives.  For me, these expenses (including my monthly payment for the actual surgery) are still less than the copays that I paid prior to surgery because of all the specialists and medications I was on.  Mel brought this to mind again yesterday when she was talking about her flexible spending account.  As I wrote yesterday, I think that it is REALLY important to use vitamins and supplements meant for WLS.  They aren't cheap but in the longrun, they are cheaper than complications.  I calculated the monthly cost of Iron, B12, Calcium, and Multivitamins from Bariatric Advantage at $46.54 per month.  If you take Biotin, add another $4.32 a month.  The cheapest protein is powdered and to get 2 protein shakes a day is about $39 a month.  So, we are looking at about $90 a month.  Yes, you can get these things cheaper, or not take them.  And, some surgeons offices offer a package deal which is great. For me, risking my health after all this work is NOT worth it.

My point in this post is to ask preops to really look at the costs and be prepared to pay them every month for the rest of your lives.  I am not saying don't have the surgery--Lord knows it is the best thing I have ever done for my health.  I am saying, be prepared, this is not the place to skimp. 

Ok, fire away!

Being a single Mom, I had already weighted it all out, and like you said, there are new expenses now, monthly and for the rest of our lives...  but then I calculated things like co-pays for aches, pains, and illnesses due to my weight that I was paying before surgery.  I also calcualted, the changes in diet,  where it isn't cheaper, it is healthier.  No longer do I go down the prepared foods isle, grabbing things with tons of carbs, or sodas, now I am in the meat section and the veggie section. 

I appreciate your post,  I have always counted pennies, but in the long run, while the money has shifted direction, it is for a healthier lifestlye. 

Like you said,  don't let this stand in your way of having surgery, my goodness, my only regret is not having it sooner!    If you are figuring out the costs, then don't just think of all the things you are going to have to now have, think of all the things you no longer will have to have when you are healthier!

Thank you for posting this!

 

Very good point to bring out. I was one that actually knew that life would become expensive for me but it's worth it, every dime. Some may not think about it until it is a real situation but this surgery is worth it all and it's good to think and consider the costs ahead of time.

Long gone are the days of cheap junk foods and low priced fatty meats,  the days of healthier eating are here.

Diane

I think your figures are right on and include the cost of a new wardrobe. But that being said at least in my case the money I've saved in excess food cost (which I do eat out most meals) has more then made up for vitamin & supplements cost as well as the prescription medication cost I no longer fork out and added Doctor and Hospital visits due to health complications. In my case I'm really ahead of the game.

Let's see... hidden costs...

No one told me to save up money or beg or borrow clothes from my friends, family...  the costs are outrageous.  I changed wardrobes every 2 weeks!  I stopped counting at 8 wardrobe changes.  Save your money for clothing.  Shop Goodwill & thrift stores.  It will save you a fortune.

I spent $1500 last year from my flex spending on protein supplements, vitamins, B12, calcium, iron, fiber helps, Liquid Tylenol, copays.  I ran out in late July.  I upped it to $2500 for 2009.  GOOD protein costs money.  Go ahead if you can and spend the extra on GOOD tasting protein... or else you have wasted your money.  You won't eat what you don't like.

If you go outside your healthcare network, (I went to Centennial which cost me a whopping copay everytime I was admitted), be prepared.  If you have any complications, you will be hit with higher copays every time.  I anticipated ZERO complications...  wa**** with a thousand dollar copay on 2 occasions after my procedure (one for dehydration, one for stricture) and another copay of approx $1500 when I had my gallbladder out.

There is also the extra expense of plastic surgery.  And, some opt not to have it... others find it necessary to have it just to preserve their sanity...  depending on how bad the hanging skin is, it can cause more detriment to a person's psychological/emotional well being than being obese ever did...

Just some thoughts.

 

Mel & Bob,
You are so right.  I have spent a fortune on clothes...and I buy cheap and take whatever is given me.  Unfortunately, not much has been given to me.  I have given away 24 huge black garbage bags of clothes this year!  I have gone down 9 sizes, from a 28 to a 10 or 12 and hopefully, I am not done yet.  Also, preops really need to think about plastics.  You may not think you "have" to have it, but after all this, you want to be the best you can be, and many of us need it because of skin infections and rashes.  We are talking between $5000-$30,000 here, so give it some planning.  And don't even think that insurance will cover it--take it as icing on the cake if they do, but DO NOT expect it!  You are also right about the protein--there are high quality proteins and there is cheap stuff.  I recommend everyone buy as high a quality as they can get--remember these are supplements and not regulated, so you need to buy from a reputable manufacturer.

Marilyn, I'm with you...  it might be opening a can of worms...  but In my opinion, if a person cannot even afford a bottle of vitamins every month, they should REthink the surgery.  They are more at risk for other problems in the longrun if they CANNOT buy vitamins and take them religiously.  We all knew up front that it would be a FOREVER process...  not "only when I feel like it" or "whenever I can afford it"...  I know it might sound ugly, and I don't mean for it to, but if a person cannot afford to take care of themselves, they will do more harm than good for themselves. 

I hear of folks saying "I had surgery two years ago; I've never taken a vitamin."  Well good luck on that one!  Come back in a year and tell me how that's workin for ya!  It makes me cringe because I know they are in for a world of hurt, along with their family members who will be forced to take care of them.  One lady recently on the RNY board told of how sick she became because she DID NOT TAKE VITAMINS.  I know there is a difference in CANNOT AFFORD and WILL NOT TAKE vitamins...  but if a person cannot afford them, then don't even think of going that route.

I used to have a saying.  "Fat ain't free.  It cost me a lot to get this way."  And now I can say "Thin ain't free.  It costs me a lot to maintain this weight." 

 Heck, I don't even think I was ready for the nearly $150 bucks that I had to spend right after surgery for all of the perscriptions. (prevacid, antibiotics, pain meds, nausea meds...)

The sucky thing is that when these pills come in pill form, piece of cake - insurance will pay for it.  However, since we need all of these to be dissolvable or liquid, it throws a kink in the system.  My doctor's office had to call and get clearance for oral dissolve prevacid.



hubby and I are about a month apart so now this is gonna totally double up everything.  

It is definitely a good idea to start storing away at least a little bit at a time once you start your WLS journey.  

You guys are making some great posts this week!

I suspect that reducing my meds as my medical issues improve/resolve will offset the cost of quality vitamins and protein.  I'm sure that'll take awhile, but it'll be worth it.  

Of course the clothes will be a whole different issue!  My mom can sew, so hopefully I can bribe her into doing a few alterations on some of my favorite skirts when the time comes.

I'll have to pay whatever my copay is for surgery, plus meds and food and vitamins/supplements.  I won't be able to eat out for awhile, so I'll save money there to redirect toward bariatric stuff.  I spent $1600 on doctors appointments and meds last year.  Like Mel, I increased my PSA to $2000.  We'll see how far that gets me! 

Aside from that, I'll just scrimp and save and do what I have to do.  I'm so tired of feeling crappy from my weight and all the problems that come with it, that it'll be worth it.

And I'm not even contemplating the plastics thing at this point.  Gotta get the surgery first! 

Thanks for bringing up the topic--it's very thought provoking and a reality check!
Denise

Great post Marilyn! I agree that folks need to be aware of and prepared for the costs of supplements and vitamins following surgery. And also the clothing costs as  the pounds drop - but as Mel said, there are some ways to minimize them.  However, like Bob L., I have found that I am really ahead since I am no longer taking all the expensive prescription meds I was on pre-op (I am down from 12 a day to only 1 med!).  Also, since my surgery, I have had way less visits to my primary care doctor for day to day ailments, so I am saving the co-pays from that.  Not to mention that since I no longer eat as much or as often, and don't eat hardly any fast foods and no junk foods now, I am saving some dollars in that area too! I must admit that I am spending a few more bucks on coffee now though - I drink it all day long! 

And don't forget the costs of the bodyguards we all had to hire to keep the opposite sex at bay now that we are all so slim and sexy! Talk about expensive!! Sheeshhhh!!!

BwaHahahahaha!!!!