Question:
can anyone tell me how much this will cost??

My insurance will not cover and I am interested in paying out of pocket. i know some places will give a big discount. i live in the St. Louis, Missouri area..any recommendations and how much will it cost??? thnx    — Marie B. (posted on June 29, 2002)

June 29, 2002
Which surgery were you looking into, you didn't mention. I'm not sure how much of a difference it is for the different types. I just had LAP RNY and I believe my total was about $20,000, pretty hefty. Insurance covered everything for me, fortunately. Goodluck in your journey!
   — Lezlie Y.

June 29, 2002
I checked my insurance companies website and found out they are being billed right at $40,000 for my surgery. I had the lap RNY with no complications and a 3 night hospital say.
   — Charity M.

June 29, 2002
I would look into the band. If you don't have a problem with sweets it is a lot cheaper than the by-pass. I am not sure how much they charge in your state for the gastric band but here in WA state it is around 11,000. Check into it. Plus it is done laproscopic so it is less invasive. Good luck!
   — Michelle J.

June 29, 2002
Costs will vary widely depending on the surgeon and the geographic area. Our surgeon, as well as many others across the country, have established contractual relationship with the hospitals in which they perform WLS. My daughter was "self-pay" and her contratual fee for lap RNY with our surgeon was $18,700, which included his fee, the assistant, anesthesia, and the hospital bill (regardless of length of stay). This was in Atlanta, GA. Good luck!
   — Diana T.

June 30, 2002
I don't know about some but my surgery was way more than I was told. I was told it would be somewhere between 25,ooo and 30,000. But in reality it ended up around 85,000-90,000. I was in the hospital from Monday till Friday (5) and the hospital charged 77,ooo +/- and the surgeon was around 10,ooo (including anethesia etc.) So thank goodness I had insurance coverage. The insurance ended up paying (minus deductions) the hospital around 57,ooo. I only had to pay a deductable to the hospital and the surgeon. But believe me when I saw that first statement I just about feel off my chair. I had surgery(lap) in Pittsburg Pa in Dec. 2001 . I still don't know why I was kept for 5 days. My surgeon had previously told me "In on Monday out on Wednesday." So I guess it depends on where you are, the surgeon and hospital and all other pre-op testing I would estimate at close to 100,000.00 dollars. Thank God for insurance.
   — janicediana

June 30, 2002
I had my surgery with Dr. Fabito at South Pointe hospital in St. Louis. I had a 3 day stay without complications. Dr. Fabito billed my ins. aprox 4500.00. South Point billed 45,000.00. They were actually paid MUCH MUCH less.
   — RebeccaP