Question:
Has anyone financed this surgery

I'm having an awful time getting my surgery approved...has anyone financed this? I have pretty crappy credit, so I guess my chances are slim..just wondering! thanks    — kkernagis (posted on June 19, 2003)

June 19, 2003
I got a second mortgage on our home to pay for this surgery. I am from Wisconsin and the doctors in this area and the Chicago area wanted about 30,000 - 52,000. I started looking at other places. I am going to Arkansas. The price down there is much cheaper. They only want about 15,000 ( that includes everything). I wish you luck.
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 19, 2003
Hi Katie, Yes, unfortunately I played the insurance game and lost due to an employer exclusion. Many people have, and some end up in Mexico. Mexico would have been more cost effective that's for sure, and although I am not saying the care there is inadequate, it just wasn't for me. I live in West Sacramento and wanted to continue to pursue a surgeon that was highly recommended to me. I have less than perfect credit as well, but was able to borrow 40k of equity in my home (surgery total has been 35k so far). Just after I had surgery I found out that there was a program at a hospital not much further away that has a structured self-pay program and I would have saved 15k. The surgeon at the other hospital apparently worked side by side with the high priced, great rep surgeon that I chose and has as much experience so I really wished I had known of the other hospital. If I wasn't going to be able to get a new loan, I would have begged my family to borrow the money. I know that sounds desperate, but I had waited so long already and right at the point that I was getting a surgery date, my insurance called and said they had made a mistake and couldn't cover the operation for me. I would have done anything at that point. Looking in retrospect, I wish that I had researched other health insurance plans that I might have been able to obtain independently without an employer. I hear that some people have done that after a denial and it worked out for them. Trust me when I say that I know how you feel going through this battle and my heart goes out to you. I will keep my fingers crossed for you. Lisa-Lap RNY 5/14/03.
   — Leesa_here

June 19, 2003
If you do my hospital gave 33 % disc for full payment so did anestheiologist. Bet I aced that spelling
   — Rusty A.

June 19, 2003
Hi, Katie. I had to self-pay, too. There are several options. If you own your own home you could take out a home equity loan. You can borrow against your 401K. A lot of hospitals have payment plans. Do you have someone who can co-sign your loan? There are places that will lend you the money, but the interest rate is determined by your credit rating. Check the library on this site for some websites that specifically lend money for elective surgery. Sorry I can't remember what they are. I know I was so determined to have this surgery that I would have put in all our charges cards if I had to. Fortunately we were able to borrow the money from our 401k plan. Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do, but please don't give up. My surgery was April 14th and it's the best thing I've ever done for myself. We'll be paying ourselves back for the next five years and we had to forgo a new car, but it's been so worth it!! Again, good luck and God bless!!
   — Julia T.

June 20, 2003
Hi, I just have one thing to say.......PLEASE, PLEASE exhaust all insurance options before you become a self-pay!! If you can change to another company that may cover wls during open season, do that....it could be worth the wait. I'm saying this to you becasue I had horrible complications (no one plans to have them, but they do happen) my hospital and doctor bills were in excess of $900,000+ Even with a discount of 50% if we could have finaggled it......we would be in the poor house. Thanks goodness I had good insurance. You can read about my complications on my profile if you wish. Just a little piece of advise. Good luck to you!
   — DebbieJ