Am I am idot to do self pay? what about complications? BCBS -AL

I am 27yr old female my bmi is 39.5 I have my first appointment to get started on getting RNY I hope on July 31st I have BCBS of Alabama.  I rarely read and cant find people who are having any good expeice with this approval with them; My husband and I are able to do the self pay which the doctors office insurance lady said would cost probrably no more than 29,000 - 30,000 TOTAL that includes anestisia, pre-op ect ect BUT She reminded me that if there were compliactions insurance wouldnt cover any because I didnt get their approva for surgery! Well we would really be screwing ourselves if this happened.   Should i cancel my appointment because things can happen.  I have a 2 yr old little boy that I dont want to leave if I would die from this.  I want the surgery while I am young and I dont have any comobilites and I have been under 4 times in the past (had surgery and did fine as a child) I just dont read hardly anyone doing self pay.  Is that because its not a good idea to do for complications cost reasons??? EEEEKK   so frusterated I am sure BCBS wont cover me because I do not have a prior 3 year history of a bmi over 40 OR a BMI of 35+ with comobidities

I can't advise you at all on your dilemma, but I will say that it's likely you don't see a lot of self-pay info here is, I'd hazard to guess, most people can't afford it, either on their own or to get that kind of loan. Just guessing, of course; I haven't been on the boards here that long, so maybe someone else has seen more self-pay posts in the past. With any surgery, things can happen, insurance or not. It's a big consideration...good luck deciding.

There are a lot of self pay patients on the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy forum, due to many insurance companies still considering it an "experimental" surgery.  Maybe one of them can help you with your decision.  I have a BMI of 41 and have for years, so I'm going the insurance route myself.  I understand how you feel about the possibility of dying b/c of the surgery, I have an 18 month old myself and it is a VERY scary thought!  Good luck whichever way you choose to go!

I am a self pay.  I had surgery in December of 06.  My husband recieved a letter from BCBS of AL yesterday saying they now approve lapband as of April.  I was so sad for me.  Being a self pay is not easy.  I am glad now my husband will get the chance at surgery.  We couldn't afford to pay for both.  If I had to do it over I don't know if I would have fought the insurance company.  The money hasn't been easy but I also don't take my band for granted either. 

Do more research. There are tons of self pay people here on OH- but 30,000 is ALOT to be paying for this surgery. There is a dr in MN that charges only 12,500 for a vertical sleeve (check out that board for pro's and con's) and my dr here is AZ is a top surgeon in the country and charges only about 23,000. Just a thought. I totally think self-pay is a valid option for your health. Think of how many cars you will buy and sell in a lifetime for 23000!

research. Appeal just in case.  Even if you lose you can then say you exhausted your administrative remedies and then can sue them Complications can cause the bill to sky rocket.

I worry about complications with PS, I have too many health risks to self pay and risk complications...

There are many more self-pays than you think, just not in the RNY board as it is currently the most accepted procedure.  Check especially the VSG and DS boards as many of their members were forced to self-pay and often traveled out of country. I too worry about complications...I have been asking on this board and others if there is some short term policy a self-pay could purchase to just cover the operation and outcome...regrettably no takers yet. Good Luck!