RaiderRob

Do you have an out of pocket maximum that you have to pay?

WOOT! I heard it was on the approved list, but I love seeing it in writing! Thanks a bunch for posting!

Right on hope all goes well for her.

Reading about Nate is actually how I found out about this surgery! Hoping it will work out as well for me as it has for him.

After finding out the cost of going with my original choice of surgeon is not going to work for me, and not being able to find anybody in California that has a lot of VSG expirence, I am thinking about possibly finding a doc that has done a ton of RNY patients with good medical statistics that does VSG and exploring that route. I'm VERY nervous about the thought of going with a doc that doesn't have the VSG experience and statistical history to base my decision on, but if I don't explore this route I would probably have to wait until VSG becomes a more popular main stream surgery covered by insurances, or I don't know???? I'm frustrated because I know this surgery will change my life, but it feels like it is miles out of reach for me I've had a few of the trusted people that I have told about wanting surgery ask why not the RNY, and my answer is that surgery scares the $#@! out of me for some reason. I'm big on gut feelings, and something tells me not to get that one. When I found out about VSG it felt like a million pounds was lifted off my shoulders and that for once in my life I had a chance at being thin. So please any suggestions, or opinions about going with a less experienced doc, or just words of advice or encouragement would definitely help me out. Thanks.

Thanks! I will look into Dr. Higa could be another option. Have you gone to one of his seminars? Do you know any stats about him? How many RNY's, VSG's, Lapbands? Anymore info about him would be GREAT!

Yeah they have a 950 dollar program fee which isn't horrible i guess. I might see if I can work my way around that since i live like 3 hours from his practice.

You are the man Gary. When I first started reading on this site seeing your results were amazing and made me seriously look in to this surgery. Hopefully one day I can make a thread celebrating being as successful as you.

Cirangle= too expensive with their $5700 after care program or I would be going to him in a heartbeat, and Aceves out of pocket cost is good but still to expensive. I have Blue Cross PPO and hope to find a surgeon who accepts it so I will be looking at a $3000 out of pocket max. After listening to folks in this thread and getting PM's I'm going to at least go to a seminar with Dr. Edward Felix in Fresno Ca, who has done a considerable amount of RNY surgeries to see what kinda vibe I get from him.

It will be nice to find T shirts that fit again at Wal mart or other department stores. Most places just don't care 3x tee's where I live and the closest Big @ Tall store is an hour plus away and expensive as $h*T...

I'm still trying to figure out a surgeon to get my process started which I wouild like to do around Feb or March next year due to financial stuff. I'm 5'11 365 and 31 years old. I'm hoping to hit a goal weight of 200-205 even though that is still pretty high on the BMI chart for a dude who is 5'11, but looking at a picture of me my sophomore year of high school I was 5'7 190 and pretty skinny (for a fat kid). Thanks for getting the man room rolling, and good luck with your surgery.

Sonora CA...Who are you going with as a surgeon? To everybody else thanks for the words/advice, it's much needed.

What's the out of pocket cost for Dr.A? I have Blue Cross PPO of California, and my max out of pocket cost is $3000. I will have around $3500 to $4000 to make sure I can cover any other little things that pop up. Thanks for the reply.

Great job, and thanks for all your helpful posts.

Yes, I was told it needed to be paid in full before the surgery could be scheduled. I live to far from them to go back and forth to there nutritionist, and support groups and crap, so I feel that paying for anything more then the follow up visits is ridiculous.

I went to the consult with Dr. Jossart back in September, and would definitely use him or Cirangle. My main issue is a $5700 cost for the 5 year "after care program". With that and my $3000 maximum out of pocket for insurance I would be looking at almost $9000 with insurance! If I could afford the best I would deffinitly go with these guys but I just can't So I really would like to find someone with good expirence and a good track record that is not going to brake my already broke a$$. The other surgeon I was looking into is Dr. Edward Felix in Fresno, but I just found out he has VERY few VSG surgerys. A lot of people where I work have had the RNY from the guy complication free, so I think I am going to go to a seminar to talk to the guy and see what kind of vibe I get from him. If anybody else has suggestions for a good surgeon please let me know. I would be willing to go as far south as Bakersfield, or if there is someone that is just the best in SOcal then I might even give them a try.

I was hoping there would be some suggestions.

I have been lurking for about a month when I had first found out about the VSG surgery. The stories and information here has been sooooo helpful, and inspirational that it convinced me that VSG is the right way to go. I am a 31 year old father of two, who has fought being overweight since I was a kid. I think VSG is going to be the stepping stone I have always needed to get healthy! I have my first consultation tomorrow afternoon with Dr. Jossart, and am hoping to have my surgery after the 1st of next year. Any other Dr. Jossart patients on here? Thanks to all of the posters here that make it an easy choice to look in to this surgery :biggrin0:

Thanks. Hope the vacation was great!

Has anybody ever has VSG surgery w/ Dr. Felix of Fresno? I know a lot of people who have had RNY and had a great experience, but I just don't know about his experience with VSG.

Any more word about Dr. Jossart? This is very disheartining, after looking at stats for other surgeons in Cali, Jossart and Cirangle are by far the best options. One thing that really bothers me about the LapSF practice is the cost ($5700) of the 5 year aftercare program which they said is not covered by insurance. Were you able to get around that cost? I'm thinking i might need to look for another surgeon ;( Anybody have any suggestions?

What??? I didn't receive anything from this about Dr. Jossart. Thanks for the heads up I need to call and find out whats up.

Great job! Your transformation has been impressive in only 4 months.

How about Cirangle patients?