Insurance doesn't cover WLS

I have health insurance through my employer but it doesn't cover any attempt at weight loss, including surgery.  I may have enough money to cover the cost but am curious if patients without insurance are charged less than those with insurance.  (For instance would they charge the amount Insurance companies actually pay rather than the amount they BILL insurance before writeoff) 

Also, wondering ballpark cost of lap band vs. gastric bypass.  I've just started looking into this and haven't researched much, so don't know much about different types of surgery -- take it easy on the newby!

Each doctor is different. What they charge the insurance company is not necessarily what they get. Many docs are only taking cash pay patients because they make more money from them than they do ins patients. Most of us are self pay because most people do not have WLS benefits on their policy.

If you are self pay, have you considered Mexico? A HUGE number of people go there and ****IF*** you do your research there is some excellent care to be had. I've done it twice. I am going back to the same city for my plastics. I wouldn't dream of staying in the US after having had experienced that level of care.

Research is free, you know? It doesn't cost a penny just to look into it and you can save a bloody fortune.

Here is my blog, it shows you how to research a Mexican surgeon however it will work for US surgeons as well.

http://wasabubblebutt.blogspot.com/2010/03/researching-mexican-or-us-sleeve.html

That will work for sleeves or bypass or DS.