Would you pay for surgery if insurance didn't?

I am considered borderline (37.5 BMI) and possibly will not qualify for the insurance to pay for my surgery (I would have the VSG or Sleeve).  The surgeon's office called me yesterday and advised me that I do not have sleep apnea, so no co-morbidities, except Psuedo Tumor which is not on the insurance companies list.  They asked if I would like to continue and wanted to discuss my options.  I read everyones responses to "would you do it again" but I am curious if everyone would do it if they had to pay for it themselves.

My doctors office has financing options available, and I wouldn't have to wait the three months required by the insurance company.  Just not sure about paying the $12K, especially since I am not considered "at risk" in the eyes of the insurance company anyway.  That makes me wonder if I am just making more of my weight issue that I should be and if I should just try to diet - again.

My hospital bill was $59,000. My surgeon's bill was $12,000.
So, NO, I would not have been willing to pay all of that without insurance coverage.

Your surgeon and hospital may give you a break if you are a cash pay only, but if there are any complications, all bets are off and you would be stuck with a monster bill.
Not worth the chance if you ask me.

That is a tough call.
I was denied my first time around. But 2 years later I had developed diabetes and metabolic syndrome inspite of my weight being stable around 230.

Wish I had some great words of wisdom, but I am glad you are giving it serious consideration.

My insurance did not pay because I had not been heavy long enough for them. BUT they also did not pay for the sleeve, which was the only surgery I cared to gamble on, for myself, so.

They did not, and I sure enough did.  I would do it again, and I would even go with the same doctor that I went with the first time.

I always strongly enocourage folks to do whatever else they think they need to do before they come to this.  It sure helped me to know none of my efforts before ever LASTED and one more was not going to be the magic time.  It helps me to not begrudge and even be thankful for the maintenance items I *get* to do to help keep myself healthy.

I wish heaps of peace and clarity  for you with your deciding, my friend.

I would still do it, but would seriously consider gong to Mexico to get it done.  I've read elsewhere on the board that there is a type of insurance you can buy that just covers against complications.  I would check into that.

 Interesting-I never heard of insurance that covers just complications.  Wish I had.  I was turned down years ago for a breast reduction and didn't want to gamble on paying for complications so I had to wait ten years until another insurance company approved me.  If I had known about that kind of insurance I would have jumped.

As for my gastric bypass, my insurance covered it, but they do not cover the sleeve.

Janet

That's a tough one.  I just figured out that at 4'11" I would have to weigh in the 180's to be at your 37.5 BMI and for me that was way to heavy for me. If you are taller then you probably carry your weight a lot better.

Having WLS has completely changed my life!!!  Besides having my family it's the best thing I have ever done for myself, my DH, my girls, and my grandchildren.

If I could afford paying for surgery without hurting my family then I'd probably go for it but if it was a huge sacrifice I probably wouldn't.  Money problems would have added more stress to my life than the weight did.

Is the 12K just for the Dr.?  How much weight do you have to gain to get to a 40 BMI?  Ohter's have gone to Mexico and been very happy.

Knowing what I know now, and how it has improved my life, I think I would have done whatever I could to have surgery.  So many folks have done Mexico and been pleased, I would have probably gone that route. 

I did RNY because insurance wouldn't cover a sleeve. 

I am self pay - not heavy enough (go figure!) and only one comorbidity. Would do it again in a heartbeat. For tax purposes your out of pocket expenses for WLS is allowed (plastics are not). Doctor/hospital stay/anesthesiologist/limited number of followup visits covered. My only additional expenses were about $300 for lab tests on removed tissue (stomach). Your insurance may cover the necessary blood work, EKG etc. Mine did (Kaiser SoCal).

I did not have any co-morbidities & still am not 100% sure how I was approved on the first try.
If I had to self pay, I probably would have eventually... my doctor's office didn't offer that option, though. If your insurance didn't pay, they didn't do the surgery. Period.

And going to Mexico? NO WAY. Not sure if there are people here who still remember one of our sisters who died on the operating table in Tijuana, but I was definitely not desperate enough to go south of the border for something this major.