Any Self pay folks out there?

Have you considered Mexico? I'm having my surgery done there in January by Dr. Fernando Garcia through Tijuana Bariatrics. I picked him after doing lots of research and after talking to some of his patients on here. I know a lot of people are wary of travelling to Mexico for the surgery but for many of us it's a good option (I live in Canada and the current wait time for surgery in my province is 5 years). If you do your research and ask a lot of questions, I think you can find a really qualified surgeon. I'll definitely be posting after my surgery so if you have questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Take care!

It's not really that I'm against Mexico persay, but I do not want to travel after surgery. I hate traveling as it is. My parents have a beautiful house in Mexico, but it's prob not near anything - it's a very small retirement type of town.

i just don't think it's for me. I do hear a lot of good things.

That's understandable. Best of luck to you in whatever you decide!

I'm with Sammy_85. Going to Mexico is far cheaper than all the bills you could face here. Depending on your choice of surgeon and surgery you can get surgery with lodging package etc for under $5,000. My ins did not cover WLS at all and that was my choice. I feel I got better care than I would have in the US and the co I went with provided round the clock attention while you recovered. I wouldn't have got that here after release from hospital. I have a friend who did the same thing and was just as happy as I am.

I had my surgery in Mexico as well for $4400.00 plus airfare as I could not afford the $19000.00 that our local hospital wanted for the surgery.  But it is not for everyone.  Whatever you decide, good luck to you.

Hello! I had surgery on October 5th and I was self pay. My insurance denied me at the last minute because my BMI wasn't over 40 for the last 5 years. I appealed and was still denied. So I ended up getting a medical loan through A company called Lightstream who had a relationship with my surgeon. I paid $18,500 for everything including all after care. The way my husband and I looked at it was this. If someone told you that if you pay them $18,500, you could lose over 100 lbs, live longer for your children, get rid of all of the medical issues caused by your weight, and help you fight obesity for the rest of your life. Would you do it? My answer was yes! We make monthly payments and treat it like a small car payment. It will be paid off in a few years and it's so worth it!! :)

laura 

This is the same reason I was denied 3 1/2 years ago just 2 weeks before my scheduled surgery. My appeals did no good. So 2 1/2 years later, with no weight lost on my own, I self-paid and had my VSG done this past January. Best decision I ever made. Everything totaled up to cost about $19,000. I have had great after-care which is all included in the initial cost for a year. I am 10 months out, over 80 pounds gone, feel 20 years younger instead of the 20 years older I felt pre-VSG, my Glucose has gone way down so I am no longer pre-diabetic, and my Cholesterol Meds dosage has been lowered by 1/2 (and will probably be stopped at a year out). Yes, it was very much worth it to self-pay! :-) Kay

I was self-pay and my BC/BS had an exclusion for bariatrics. My total was $14,800, and I took out a loan for 12k. I would definitely shop around and see if you can find surgeon (with good credentials) that will preform surgery for a lower cash price. I understand that you hate to travel, but you may want to check in nearby cities and states. 

I self paid for RNY, it was $28K out of pocket BUT you get to write that off the following year, and I got just over $14K back in taxes.  So for me a) RNY changed my life/best decision I ever made, and I'd say that at $28K no refund (hell I'd say that looking back at $50K even though I wouldn't have been able to afford that) and b) thanks to tax breaks, you'll get about 1/2 that back the following year in refunds.

$4200 in Mexico plus the flight.

There is not a lot of after care honestly... my husband is 4 weeks post op. 

His PCP can order labs. That is about it.

Do your research.

Good luck!!!