Re: Self pay

[Guest guest]

I paid for mine myself..I don't have insurance...and would do it again in a

heartbeat. Its changing my life around...and I've barely even started. (6

weeks post-op).

Hugs,

ortaj ortaj@...> wrote:

I wonder how many people have to pay for their GBP surgery because

insurance doesn't cover it? for those of you who have self paid, would

you do it again? I would have to pay for mine and I'm not sure I have

the whole picture...

Thanks for the help...

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I was self-pay. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Best $$ I ever spent.

W

380/255/160

ortaj wrote:

> I wonder how many people have to pay for their GBP surgery because

> insurance doesn't cover it? for those of you who have self paid, would

> you do it again? I would have to pay for mine and I'm not sure I have

> the whole picture...

>

> Thanks for the help...

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

, What part of mexico did you have your surgery in? About how

much would you say it would cost? My sister and my aunt would both

like to have it but neither one has insurance to pay for it. Thanks,

Take Care, in CA

> > I wonder how many people have to pay for their GBP surgery

because

> > insurance doesn't cover it? for those of you who have self paid,

would

> > you do it again? I would have to pay for mine and I'm not sure I

have

> > the whole picture...

> >

> > Thanks for the help...

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I went to Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey Mexico. An hour or so flight from

Dallas. Very nice area. Wonderful surgeon & staff. Great hospital. I

couldn't have imagined doing it any other way. Total cost w/ hotel,

airfare, everything was about $15K-$16K.

W

380/255/160

iamthinnow wrote:

> , What part of mexico did you have your surgery in? About how

> much would you say it would cost? My sister and my aunt would both

> like to have it but neither one has insurance to pay for it. Thanks,

> Take Care, in CA

[Guest guest]

Are you planning on plastic surgery? If so, would you go back to

Mexico?

> I went to Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey Mexico. An hour or so flight

from

> Dallas. Very nice area. Wonderful surgeon & staff. Great

hospital. I

> couldn't have imagined doing it any other way. Total cost w/

hotel,

> airfare, everything was about $15K-$16K.

>

> W

> 380/255/160

>

> iamthinnow wrote:

> > , What part of mexico did you have your surgery in? About

how

> > much would you say it would cost? My sister and my aunt would

both

> > like to have it but neither one has insurance to pay for it.

Thanks,

> > Take Care, in CA

>

[Guest guest]

It depends on if I need it. If I went back to Mexico it would only be

to someone that my wls surgeon recommends.

W

380/255/160

lisamathis76 wrote:

> Are you planning on plastic surgery? If so, would you go back to

> Mexico?

>

[Guest guest]

I was a self pay for LWS. I had Kaiser at the time. I now have Blue

Cross and they paid for my TT! I would do it again even if I had to

pay!

~

>

> I wonder how many people have to pay for their GBP surgery because

> insurance doesn't cover it? for those of you who have self paid,

would

> you do it again? I would have to pay for mine and I'm not sure I

have

> the whole picture...

>

> Thanks for the help...

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info . I know that price is still out of my

sister's budget, she is single and doesn't have decent insurance and

she works for Denny's and has been there for 15 years and no decent

insurance, pretty pitiful huh? Now my aunt may be able to swing it. My

uncle does anything for her. Does anyone know how much the surgery

costs here in the US? I was lucky to have it covered 100%. Anyhow

thansk for the info guys & gals. Take Care in CA

[Guest guest]

I'm having to do my GBS self-pay also.

I have contracts from everyone, and here is the break-down:

Hospital: (surgery and three nights) $18,500

Surgeon; (Follow-ups included) $ 5,000

Anesthesiologist: $ 1,200

Surgical Ass't. (Sounds like Zebart) $ 500

Grand Total $ 25,200

One can always go to Mexico or there a number of good clinics in

Argentina. (per Dr. ex-BF) I opted to stay in the US because: 1)

Hard enough to get one week, let alone 2-3 off for trip and

surgery. 2) No place to send my teenager for that time 3) Although

I'd rather pay $12K, the Lord has blessed me with the wherewithal to

do this, so I will.

Jeannie

245/245/130 Pre-OP, should get a firm date soon!!

[Guest guest]

At 12/25/2006 10:42 PM, you wrote:

>Thanks for the info . I know that price is still out of my

>sister's budget, she is single and doesn't have decent insurance and

>she works for Denny's and has been there for 15 years and no decent

>insurance, pretty pitiful huh? Now my aunt may be able to swing it. My

>uncle does anything for her. Does anyone know how much the surgery

>costs here in the US? I was lucky to have it covered 100%. Anyhow

>thansk for the info guys & gals. Take Care in CA

According to my surgeon 20-25k is normal. There are ways to cut cost

while having the procedure. This does not mean less quality. One

big way it to cut out the radiologist MD and use a radiologist tech

instead. The X-ray will be evaluated by your surgeon and not the

radiologist MD, who charges a lot for his title. My surgeon had a

talk to the local hospital and others involved and pressured everyone

to go down as low as possible. He told them to cut the billing crap

for uninsured and layed down the price cuts they give to medicare

patients. That is way low and they still make money! As a result he

will be offering the surgery below 19k this year. He suggested to

pressure your hospital to give you medicare prices, even if you don't

have medicare. One patient in my group got that price by paying

upfront. She paid 15k! Also ask for a list of items you may need

and get it yourself. There are thinks they hospital sells to you at

an overpriced rate. You may be able to save 1k by getting them

prior. For those interested I use Dr. Mirande at Merle West Medical

in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Katharina

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Phone: Fax:

[Guest guest]

Great suggestions! And its wonderful your surgeon steps up to the plate

like that where costs are concerned.

W

380/255/160

Katharina wrote:

> According to my surgeon 20-25k is normal. There are ways to cut cost

> while having the procedure. This does not mean less quality. One

> big way it to cut out the radiologist MD and use a radiologist tech

> instead. The X-ray will be evaluated by your surgeon and not the

> radiologist MD, who charges a lot for his title. My surgeon had a

> talk to the local hospital and others involved and pressured everyone

> to go down as low as possible. He told them to cut the billing crap

> for uninsured and layed down the price cuts they give to medicare

> patients. That is way low and they still make money! As a result he

> will be offering the surgery below 19k this year. He suggested to

> pressure your hospital to give you medicare prices, even if you don't

> have medicare. One patient in my group got that price by paying

> upfront. She paid 15k! Also ask for a list of items you may need

> and get it yourself. There are thinks they hospital sells to you at

> an overpriced rate. You may be able to save 1k by getting them

> prior. For those interested I use Dr. Mirande at Merle West Medical

> in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

> Katharina

>

[Guest guest]

I'm also doing self-pay but taking the cheaper route. After doing

research and asking as many questions as I could, I chose Dr Alberto

Aceves, in Mexacalli, Mexico. I fly into San Diego on the 9th of Jan,

have my sugery on the 10th, and return home on the 15th. That is

about 7 days. My husband is going with me, the surgery cost is

$12,500, our round trip air fare per person was $453.

Here locally the surgery is $27,000 and I'm not sure what that

includes, it may be all of it. But I don't have $27,000, but I do

have $12,500. There were even cheaper but I liked the Doctor and his

staff, they seem to be considerate and helpful. I've heard nothing

but the best from every one returning at how they spoil you, but do

make you do the things you are supposed to do.

I attended a seminar with this doctor, he does one a month, and he

actually discourages self pay and that seemed a big greedy to me. He

seemed to know what he was doing and very confident of his abilities.

But I just can't afford him, but also can afford to keep this extra

weight oon either.

I'm sure we will both do well.

Take care

[Guest guest]

I looked Dr. Aceves up on OH. He seems like a good doctor. I went to

Mexico as well. I used Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey. I couldn't have

imagined going anywhere else. I had a great experience in Mexico! I'm

glad your hubby is going with you. I went alone. I wish I had taken

someone w/ me. Would have made the time go by quicker. But I had my

laptop & was able to keep in touch. Does Dr. Aceves have a nutritionist

on staff to work with you? That was one thing I liked about Dr.

Rumbaut. I have a nutritionist on his staff I can email any time and

she will help me w/ menus and whatnot. She's fabulous. For about the

first 3 mos I emailed her weekly w/ a food diary.

W

380/255/160

magnoliamouth wrote:

> I'm also doing self-pay but taking the cheaper route. After doing

> research and asking as many questions as I could, I chose Dr Alberto

> Aceves, in Mexacalli, Mexico. I fly into San Diego on the 9th of Jan,

> have my sugery on the 10th, and return home on the 15th. That is

> about 7 days. My husband is going with me, the surgery cost is

> $12,500, our round trip air fare per person was $453.

>

> Here locally the surgery is $27,000 and I'm not sure what that

> includes, it may be all of it. But I don't have $27,000, but I do

> have $12,500. There were even cheaper but I liked the Doctor and his

> staff, they seem to be considerate and helpful. I've heard nothing

> but the best from every one returning at how they spoil you, but do

> make you do the things you are supposed to do.

>

> I attended a seminar with this doctor, he does one a month, and he

> actually discourages self pay and that seemed a big greedy to me. He

> seemed to know what he was doing and very confident of his abilities.

> But I just can't afford him, but also can afford to keep this extra

> weight oon either.

>

> I'm sure we will both do well.

>

> Take care

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

wow, I don't know if he does have a nutritionist, I'll ask, but I do

intend to find and pay for by myself a dietician here in my local area.

I have interstitial cystitis so I can't eat many things already

(still wondering where all this fat bubble butt and quarter back body

came from) I figured it was mostly from quitting smoking and I was

carrying about 25 pounds more than I should anyway.

I intend to get professional who knows interstitial cystitis who can

help me when I get to the real food stage. Mostly I know from the

book " weight loss surgery for dummies " that it is a 60/40 protein/carb

ratio so I figure I can do that with the foods I know I can handle,

but working with a professional I can increase other foods to my diet

that will not bore me. I'm pretty chicken with food right now, I know

most of the " must not eats " for my diease and have made very painful

mistakes.

I think if every goes as planned I will agree I would self pay again.

I have insurance that this year pays 100%, but it would take me 2

years to qualify to get the surgery. I'm not going to wait on that

and hurt myself more. I'm going after the tool, that will give me the

greatest chance of success for the rest of my life.

and now the plastic surgeon question, I will return to Mexico and use

one that my doctor recommends. I may even visit several to see who I

like best. Heck why not, use it like vacation time.

I know I will need surgery on my batwings, and my flabby inner thighs

if I don't it will make me wear bigger clothes than I need because of

the flab. I figure I will begin this search in Aug Sept, and have any

plastic surgeries in the winter time, to be healed for summer.

ok, off my soap box

[Guest guest]

I have the horrid bat wings as well! LOL And my thighs aren't lookin

too hot either! But the batwings will definitely have to go! Tummy

tuck I can live w/out probably. It all depends on how much hubby's

insurance pays and what I have to pay myself. So, we'll see. We now

have insurance that would have covered my WLS. Go figure. I would have

had it done in the US if insurance had covered it. But if I had to do

it over again as self-pay...I'd be on my way to Mexico.

W

380/255/160

magnoliamouth wrote:

> wow, I don't know if he does have a nutritionist, I'll ask, but I do

> intend to find and pay for by myself a dietician here in my local area.

>

> I have interstitial cystitis so I can't eat many things already

> (still wondering where all this fat bubble butt and quarter back body

> came from) I figured it was mostly from quitting smoking and I was

> carrying about 25 pounds more than I should anyway.

>

> I intend to get professional who knows interstitial cystitis who can

> help me when I get to the real food stage. Mostly I know from the

> book " weight loss surgery for dummies " that it is a 60/40 protein/carb

> ratio so I figure I can do that with the foods I know I can handle,

> but working with a professional I can increase other foods to my diet

> that will not bore me. I'm pretty chicken with food right now, I know

> most of the " must not eats " for my diease and have made very painful

> mistakes.

>

> I think if every goes as planned I will agree I would self pay again.

> I have insurance that this year pays 100%, but it would take me 2

> years to qualify to get the surgery. I'm not going to wait on that

> and hurt myself more. I'm going after the tool, that will give me the

> greatest chance of success for the rest of my life.

>

> and now the plastic surgeon question, I will return to Mexico and use

> one that my doctor recommends. I may even visit several to see who I

> like best. Heck why not, use it like vacation time.

>

> I know I will need surgery on my batwings, and my flabby inner thighs

> if I don't it will make me wear bigger clothes than I need because of

> the flab. I figure I will begin this search in Aug Sept, and have any

> plastic surgeries in the winter time, to be healed for summer.

>

> ok, off my soap box

>

>

>