how do I pay?

So seeing as this is the 20 something forum, I would like to know how you all managed to pay for your weightloss surgery? Because frankly, at 23 I work full time make okay money, don't drive a fancy car live in an apartment, but for the life of me I have no idea where to get the money for this surgery?!?!? So where did you all get the money from?  Is it all insruance?  As an overweight person should I pay to get my own insurance since my insurance at work doesn't cover it? How do you do it? Better yet how in the world can I get a loan at the age of 23? I have treid and they keep giving me loans for lik 5000 bucks but then thats it... I can pay back a loan at up to 300 a month, so if any of you work at a bank let me know if we can work something out!

As an overweight person should I pay to get my own insurance since my insurance at work doesn't cover it? I have no seen one individual plan that covers WLS... I would start by talking to where you work about adding the benefit to the plan. If there are others at work who would be interested have them talk to HR as well. Its an 'additional' benefit and costs more to have it on the policy.. thats why many companies dont pay the extra $$. If your company isnt open to the idea you could consider getting a p/t job that offers insurance... find out prior if their insurance covers WLS. Many companies now offer better benefits to p/t employees - especially if the majority of their workers are p/t. As for a loan at age 23... medical loan interest rates are OUTRAGEOUS. Its also an unsecured loan... they are harder to get because unsecured means they have nothing to take from you if you default - best bet would to see if one of your parents would help cosign the loan so you can use their credit to help. I looked into it for plastic surgery and the lowest rates that were offered were 23%... it ran from 23%-27%... thats a huge payment each month unless you have a giant chunk to put down. As a last resort you could always look into having surgery out of the country and saving up your money. IMO your best bet is to work someplace that offers the benefit. If you can only afford $300 a month you would have to put a pretty good chunk of money down depending on what surgery and where you have it.  My insurance at the time covered the surgery. It took me from the time I walked into the surgeons office to surgery 9 months so I had plently of time to save up for my portion of the surgery - it came up to around $1500. Dont keep trying for loans unless you are going to use them. Applying for credit lowers your credit score. If you do not use the loan then you wasted those points because that loan isnt on your credit report to help you build the credit back thru good credit payment history. The minimum credit score lenders look for to consider you a 'decent' candiate is 620, below that you are considered as having 'bad' credit.

Unfortunetly right now my part time job is school, one mroe semester to go and I'm finished though so thank god for that. I have definetly thought about getting it done outside of the country but once again money is the issue. I can save up 1,500 easy in a month or two, I know so why don;t I jsut save up tillI have enough for the surgery right? mainly because i am impatient. :D I have been looking to get this surgery for 2-3 years and my last place of employment also didn't cover it either. I don't like jumping from job to job becuase i think it looks poorly on me.  I don't know if I am being close minded but but what kind of part time job should I get that I can work at from 6pm until... I don;t knwo when and still get enough sleep? I'm not being sarcastic about this, I'm serious.

Grocery store... retail store... places at the mall, resturants... anything that is pretty much open a little later. Old Navy, Target.. places like that are good - just have to check who offers insurance and who doesnt. You dont necessarily have to job hop... you can research a job before taking it - maybe check with people in your area - find out if where they work is hiring and if the insurance will cover the surgery. I cant say I blame you being inpatient and wanting the surgery... however you would be MUCH better saving than taking a loan out - the interest rate is just insane... it would cost you 400-500$+++ a month in a loan payment for the next 4, 5+ years... thats a long time to pay that much money... while its worth it of course after a year or two of paying I cant imagine it wouldnt be tiresome. If the insurance you have excludes coverage of any WLS complications you would have to be prepared for paying on that... if you get surgery out of the country most surgeons in the US wont touch you after that if you have any problems... you have that possibility as well!

I know for a fact that Starbucks insurance covers the surgery and they only require you to work 20 hours a week to qualify for the surgery. My sister works there and I think she was only there 3 months before they offered her insurance and from what I read of her stuff it is really great insurance and at very reasonable prices.

I am self pay and am going to Mexico for the operation. It is going to cost me $7800. And for check-ups and fills I will be going to Fill Centers USA. The good thing for me is I have most of that saved up but financing is available.

WOW thats kinda crazy, Starbucks of all places, I will defeinetly look into that as  a part time job. Thanks!

Home depot and Fred meyers for sure too. Where do you work right now.

I work in dowtown tampa in a law office.

I was a 25 year-old cash-pay patient. I fortunately had someone that loaned me the money. We actually worked out a way to where they made money also. I took the $15,000 they let me borrow for the surgery and purchased a CD with it. I then borrowed against the CD. With the fact that I was borrowing against my own money, I was able to get a great great interest rate, yet my payments are still only $300 a month for about 5 years. So, best advice I can give is find a rich friend or family member ;-) Hah, good luck!