Question:
Would any of you post-ops be willing to share the amount you spent on surgery?

I know it varies depending on surgeon, type of surgery, and insurance, but I'd like to get an average amount. I'd especially like to hear from anyone who has United Health Care, because that's my insurance company.    — lfmusc75 (posted on August 16, 2003)


August 15, 2003
I self payed. I payed 14,500. Good Luck!
   — [Deactivated Member]

August 15, 2003
I am very very lucky to be double covered under the same health plan. I am required to carry insurance on my self that my employer offers. I am also covered under my husband's family policy through his job. Both policies are through the same insurance company so the claims are processed very quickly and without a hassle of coodinating coverages. I have not had to pay anything at all. Please don't bash me for being so lucky.
   — Kathy J.

August 15, 2003
I have bc/bs. I still had to pay $6,000.00 . The hospital was on my plan but not my Doctor. He is the only one in my area that does lap.
   — myra J.

August 16, 2003
Lisa, I too have UHC. It is a PPO and my surgeon is in network. I am told they cover 90% up to $1500 out of pocket expenses and a $300 deductible. After that they cover 100%. If you need help email me at [email protected]. Lizette
   — Lizette A.

August 16, 2003
surgery 10/01 in St. Louis. Total billed 49,000. Insurance paid 100% less 100. deductible. UHC choice.
   — RebeccaP

August 16, 2003
I had a $50 co-pay, but the insurance footed the rest of the bill. Hospital was $20,829 and surgeon's fee was $4000.
   — Cathy S.

August 16, 2003
I have Oxford Freedom Plan and I was totally covered. I don't even remember paying a copay to the surgeon. I also have GHI as a secondary from my husband but it wasn't even used. The most expensive part of my surgery was feeding my husband while I was in the hospital, parking the car in a garage in Manhattan while he came to see me, and the phone/tv bill. I would say, considereing I went back in the hospital w/ constipation complications and totalled 6 nights with the surgery, $100 for the tv/phone, $300 to $400 for parking, and a few hundred to feed hubby. He was so tired I didn't have the heart to be upset about the parking. This could take about a half hour to find street parking in NYC and up to 5 to 10 blocks away from the hospital. I consider it an expense I didn't prepare for, but not able to be helped. Oh, I was on disability for 2 weeks which also didn't help. Now that we are all caught up and I am 6 months out and down 86.5 pounds, I feel it is money well spent. Oh well, just no big vacation this year!!!!
   — Fixnmyself

August 16, 2003
I have CIGNA POS NJ. My doctor was in network (as well as being a hospital employee), and so was the anesthesiologist. Off the top of my head, it was approx $35,000; My co-pay is 10% of what the insurance pays up to $1000/year. Out of pocket my expenses were $700. Hope this helps! Linda
   — lorien

August 16, 2003
Self-pay $6,900 for surgery and hospital stay. April 10th 2003 down 75lbs
   — Angie H.

August 16, 2003
Find out what your "out of pocket maximum" is. Call the insurance comapany. Mine was $750, so no matter what it goes up to it is MAX $750.
   — ZZ S.

August 16, 2003
My husbands insurance is Highmark BC/BS. I have to pay a deductible of $750, and out-of-pocket maximum of $3000. I also had to pay upfront money for initial consult, nutritionist, bariatric coordinator, and pre-op visit. This is a 15% copay/85% they pay type of insurance. The Doctor and the hospital are part of the in-network organization. I hope you have better insurance coverage. My husband has to pay $66.00 a WEEK for this for the two of us. I hope this info helps.
   — Delores M.

August 16, 2003
I have United Healthcare PPO. Before my surgery they tod me I would have to pay my $250 deductable and my out of pocket maximum which be $2250. They said htat they were giving me an exception and considering the hospital and surgeon in network, even thought they are not. Shortly after my surgery I checked my claim online and they said that they were only covering 35% which left me with almost $20,000 to pay out of pocket. I call UHC and they told me that I did not have prior authorization for this surgery and the y would only cover me 35%. This was not true. I have an approval letter from them covering the surgery. I called my surgeons office and they told me not to worry about it. They said UHC always denies the claim after the surgery is performed. But they have to and always do pay,because they gave prior appproval. So if something like this happen to you don't fret. They will pay as long as they have sent you an approval letter.
   — Stacie B.

August 16, 2003
HMA covered all but my maximum out of pocket of $600. Total cost of surgery was about 39 grand, less discounts applied for being in network.
   — [Deactivated Member]

August 16, 2003
I am sel-pay as well. My total bill including pre-op testing was just shy of $25,000. I paid $12,500 and Vocational Rehab paid $12,500. Very dear friends of mine loaned me $5,000 to help cover my costs. I'll be paying it off for some time, but it was worth every penny.
   — Beaumom

August 16, 2003
I was covered 100%. I only paid $15 for the sleep study, but as far as the operation/hospital stay was concerned - $0. I have BC/BS Community Blue Advantage.
   — sweetmana

August 16, 2003
I was a self-pay. I paid the doctor $4,000.00. I paid the hospital $8,500.00. I paid $800.00 for the anesthesia. I paid a radiologist fee (to read the UGI day after surgery) $125.00. (Labs and other pre-op tests are not included in these prices.)
   — Carolyn H.

August 16, 2003
MY SURGERY WAS APRIL 23, 2003. WE HAVE INSURANCE WITH B/C B/S TRIGON. THE HOSPITAL AND OTHER SERVICES WERE IN THE APPROVED LIST. OUR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE FOR THE SURGERY WAS $100 PLUS A $5.00 PHONE CHARGE. ALL OTHER COSTS WERE COVERED, EVEN THE AFTER CARE, SO FAR. THE COST OF THE SURGERY WAS APPROX $16K, NOT INCLUDING SUGREON'S FEE. SORRY TO HEAR OF YOUR HASSELS. I AM SO HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS FROM MY SURGERY. I HOPE THIS HELPS. CHERIE B @ DUNBAR, PA.
   — CHERIE B.

August 16, 2003
I was one of the lucky ones, i was responsible for a co-pay of $10 only.
   — Kriola

August 16, 2003
nothing, I didn't even have a co-pay with my HMO, I consider myself VERY fortunate.
   — Sarah S.

August 16, 2003
I have Aetna and am going thru the Mayo Clinic for my surgery. I am pre op and so far my out of pocket has been $3,780...I have had ever test known to man i believe and seems everything at Mayo is *above the national average*..scared to see how much the surgery will cost me but I figure * I am worth it :) *
   — Kathy S.

August 16, 2003
Kaiser paid 100%- $35,000.
   — ~~Stacie~~

August 16, 2003
I have United Health Care in TX. I had surgery on 05-27-03 and I had surgery at Bariatric Treatment Centers in Wylie. I was told surgery was only around $35,000-$40,000. Well needless to say, United has already paid out over $66,000 and BTC is sending me bills telling me United paid all but $1,200 and I have 30 days to pay the $1,200!!! What's funny is the bill they are sending me actually lists ALL procedures and what United paid...Well, needless to say, their is no $1,200 left owed? Every $5,000 item they charged for shows PAID in full! LOL, even the charges for putting a clean sheet on my bed every day for $650, each day!!!! But, I still owe them $1,200 for something!!! Good Luck.... My problem is not with United and I am still happy with the treatment I got from BTC, just not their ethics of billing.
   — Mindy B.

August 16, 2003
I had bc/bs of california even though i reside in nevada...anyways i had to put a 6000.0 deposit down for the surgeon since he wasnt contracted with my insurance. and i beleive like 50 bucks for the hospital i did receive a refund from the surgeon because the insurance actually paid more then expected i took the refund and paid all the other co pays and blood work and stuff that needed to be paid so all in all i paid about 6 gran for everything and the insurance paid the rest...best $$ i spent no regrets!!
   — Deanna Wise

August 17, 2003
I began the process to get coverage two years ago. I wanted DS, and after telling me they'd cover it they refused; they'd pay for RNY or VBG only (100%). I appealed up to the point of needing a lawyer and finally raided my retirement fund to self-pay for a surgeon in CA. $25,500 all-inclusive. I would have gone to excellent surgeons in Spain or Brazil--much cheaper--but was too fat to make the trip. You can research DS at duodenalswitch.com to find out why having DS was so important to me.
   — Chris T.

August 17, 2003
I'm a self pay of $23,040.00 was worth every dime.
   — Maxine W.

August 17, 2003
I am one of the lucky one's as well. I have Great West/One Health Plan PPO and will end up paying about $300 out of pocket. $200 of that is to the nutritionist since that is the only thing not covered by my insurance. All I have to pay out of pocket is my $100 deductable. I am still really happy about that. ~Kourtney
   — kjohnson78




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