Change in plans

I have been planning and working toward VSG in the middle of next year. I was to attend my 3rd of 6 required monthly visits next week. Then .... I am let go from my job on Dec 30th. There goes all my waiting. With no job I have no insurance and there ends my WLS journey.

Or so I thought. I have been sitting and thinking and worrying. After talking it over with my mother, who is 100% behind whatever I decide, I think I am going to use part of my 401K to go ahead and self pay in Mexico. I am to a point where I do not want to put this off any longer. If I have to wait to find a job then qualify for insurance it could be another year or longer before I have surgery. My thought is that this will be an investment in me. As I am changing careers I will work on changing myself at the start of a new year.

I know there are a lot of options for surgeons. From what I have been reading, I have decided on Dr Alvarez. I have already contacted Susan and send in my medical questionnaire. Now I am just waiting to hear back. There are hundreds of reviews that say he is exceptional. For those who had surgery with him, what was your experience? Any negatives or things I may need to know about surgery in Mexico?

Congrats!! I'm a Mexico self pay as well, I am scheduled for the 19th :)

definitely check out the Mexico forum here for reviews and experiences! 

I used my insurance, unfortunately my plan is not the greatest so I paid about 10,000.00 out of pocket along with the monthly premiums my company paid.  I appreciate that I have insurance, however it might have been better to take 6000.00 out of savings and get it done with rather than the 10,000.00 I paid.  From what I have read surgery in Mexico costs 4-6 thousand.  Is that accurate.

Dr A is going to be $8500 all inclusive.  I worked the math and by the time I paid the full premium for my insurance,  the required tests, deductible,  and the my portion of the bill I was going to be out of pocket about $12000. So that's why I decided to self pay in Mexico. 

Many doctors are in that window, between 4-6, but I've seen some total costs up to 9k. Me personally, I paid $4600.

Thank you :) And congratulations.  I know you're excited it's so close.

By law, you have the right to continue your health insurance if you've lost your job. You'd have to pay the premiums yourself, but it should be much less than self paying for surgery.

I agree that you should look into the option to continue your insurance rather than take money from a 401K.

You will pay taxes, penalties and have repayment terms, meaning that you may have to take out 150% of your actual surgery costs.

It could be much cheaper to continue your existing insurance.

Good luck.

As others said, consider other options, like loan, or still using insurance, depending hiw much deductible and out if pocket you current insurance (cobra) has. 

There also may be an option to take a 401 based loan...you don't take the money from 401K, but rather take a loan.. 

The 401k based loan does come from your 401 but you pay yourself back and the interest is very low. Look into the loan option and spread the payments out to the longest term possible, much cheaper than paying penalties.