We have a new episode of Obesity Chat by Dr. A.  You can check it out at www.obesitychat.com or the latest episode's direct link is:

After what seems like the longest 9 months of my life, I finally got my letter of approval today! My surgeons office is calling this week to schedule my pre-op appointment. 

Im so excited!!

Would you like to have a plastic surgery consult?  No problem!  Join us at our ObesityHelp National Conference 2014 and you'll be able to have a free private consultation with our three plastic surgeons, Dr. Siamak Agha, Dr. Timothy Katzen and Dr. Alejandro Quiroz.

We hope you'll join us at the Conference.    

I wanted to share this with anyone interested in self-pay for DS surgery.  I am not a candidate for DS surgery through Cigna *****quires a minimal BMI of 50 (I think with Co-morbidities) and this is the only surgery I want.  I was only looking at Mexico as I thought financially that would be my only option when I saw something on one forum or another regarding self pay in Pennsylvania being a reasonable option.  Upon doing more research, I found a highly vetted surgeon in NJ (Dr. Greenbaum) who quoted me $13k for the procedure whi*****ludes 4 days hospitalization, surgery, anesthesia)  the additional things I must get are an endoscopy (my insurance should pay) and a appt with a nutritionist (again - looking to have insurance pay, we'll see.

I spoke to the patient coordinator asking her "is there ANYTHING ELSE that could be an out of pocket expense?"  She said that Dr Greenbaum also does a liver biopsy (CPT code 47000/47100) and a radiological "leak"test post surgery (CPT code 74240/74241 depending).  My next question was - ok what does that cost?  She didn't know - WTF. Luckily, I found a terrific person in the billing office at the hospital that gave PHENOMENAL service and did a couple things - 1) since I was having surgery there they worked on the price 2) being self pay, only paying 12% of cost - she is sending me paperwork for approval and confirmation/documentation that allows me to pay 12% of the cost as a self pay - the 2 additional procedures would cost $2100 and at self pay will cost me $252 - I can deal with that.

I was prepared to go to either Dr. Aceves or Dr. Ungson - whose prices are almost the same but this saves me from flying from Philadelphia to San Diego or deeper into Mexico for Ungson.  Ungson seems amazing too as a doctor yet I don't love flying that far after surgery and at a lower price (unless complications) I have a vetted DS surgeon about 1 hour away.  If I do have complications, Greenbaum says the hospital will cost about $850/day additional.  Luckily, I also have a voluntary plan that will pay $500/day to me when I'm hospitalized for the first 5 days and a surgery benefit then $100/day after that - so that too will help with the cost.  Wish me luck and no complications!!!!  Scheduled 6/30/2014, nervous but I can't wait!!!

I am switching from BC/BS to Atena POS II effective Sept 1.  I would really like to have the lap band, but I can not pay for it out right.  It is my understanding that insurance from either companies do not want to pay for it?