Excitement turning to worry : (

[Food_vs_Life 18]

I am BEYOND excited to find out today that I was approved by my credit union for a loan in the amount of $11,725! The surgeon that I wanted in Jacksonville, FL charges $14,000 so I knew that meant I would need to find another surgeon. Anyways, http://weightlossjax.com/ offers the surgery for $10,000 but when I called to ask about it she said that with my BMI I would have to have the surgery in the hospital which would drive the cost up to $15,000.

I am just really bummed. I asked if it is cut and dry and no exceptions on the BMI. I asked this because though my BMI is high other then that I have no other health problems at all. My sugar is on the low end, normal BP, all of my blood work is always right in the margins of where it should be. I have even had an EKG before and everything was fine with that. She said she was going to have someone else in the office call me to see what could be done if anything. Praying that they can do it in the surgery center.

The only other hope that I have is True Results in TX. I have contacted them and I am hoping that they can perform the surgery for the lower cost even with my high BMI. I am 5'3 and weigh 360lbs which would put me right near 60 for a BMI I believe.

Anyone else run into this problem? Any suggestions?

[Instyle98 240]

Where do you live? I think that in addition to the initial cost for the surgery, you have to factor in all of the pre-op appointments and your after care. Pretty much all of my pre-op stuff was done at the True Results Center (except for my cardiac clearance because I have my own cardiologist) plus where are you going to go for post op appointments and fills? There are many on here having difficulty finding someone to do their fills if they had surgery done somewhere else. There is a lot of back and forth involved especially in the beginning or if you have problems. It's not like buying a car and then going to any dealership for maintenance or repairs. What if there are additional costs for stuff you didn't plan on. BTW, look at my surgical costs on my profile. I think it's interesting what they told me it would cost out of pocket for self pay, what my cost was (They treated me as if I was in network and the amount listed does not include co-pays or charges for what was not covered on my sleep study or for my sleep apnea equipment. My insurance covered part of that but I still had $400 out of pocket for the test and $300 + out of pocket for the equipment. Because I now have a Bi-pap I do have recurring costs for stuff that has to be continually replaced on that.) Some of the tests required for surgery have to be done by other providers outside of the surgery centers and they have to be paid too.

I was fortunate that things have gone smoothly for me so far and I have to drive across the city (approximately an hour depending on traffic) to get to the center where I go. I'm not so sure how excited I would be if I had to drive hours to get there and had to go more frequently than I do.

[Food_vs_Life 18]

Instyle98... I am aware of all the follow ups that will be needed and that is a concern. That is also why I am trying to get the surgery done by a local surgeon. However, I am still in the planning stages and I am calling around to see who will do my fills etc. I am pretty confident I will find someone.

I have $1,000 set up for fills in my FSA which I believe will more then cover any fills I need for the year. I am still working it all out though and I will definitely make an educated decision. I will have to go through your cost later tonight. Thanks for letting me know about it.

[Instyle98 240]

The charges sent to my insurance company surprised me. Initially when I went on line to look at what they were being billed for the charges looked about what they had told me they would be. Then I went back a little later and saw a $45,000 charge! It was being held because my insurance company was waiting for more information from the surgery center. I called to make sure they were sending the requested info and asked what that $45,000 charge was about. I was told it was for the actual surgery that was done at the True Results Surgery Center! Dang! I wasn't even there for half a day! I was lucky - I was the first case and I was home in my bed by noon and I live an hour away! Talk about drive by surgery - LOL! They did reassure me though that I was only responsible for the amount that I had been quoted and already paid the day of surgery even if my insurance did not pay.

In the meantime, I now have a different insurance and I have no idea if they will cover my after care. My original insurance covered one year's worth of fills. Even if my current insurance covers I have an out of pocket that has to be met first so I will have to pay for whatever I need until I hit that amount. Unlike my last insurance there are no co-pays, I have to pay the bills myself until I reach the deductible. Fortunately they told me that fills are $75 each or if I pay $240 in advance or authorize checking account withdrawals ($40) they reduce the price to $40 per fill. They will only do a fill every 30 days so that will cover 6 months. That's very do-able for me.

[readyforthin 28]

I'm worried too. My insurance doesn't cover bariatric surgery. We are repairing a hiatal hernia too so the surgery it's self will be covered. I will still have to pay for the banding, my deductible and my share after insurance. They quoted me $8,000. Totally sucks but I WILL make it work! I have been wanting to do this surgery for years and am finally focusing on me to do it.

[Food_vs_Life 18]

@Readyforthin... Where are you having your surgery done at? It does suck to have to pay but I am just so happy to have the financing to do it.

[readyforthin 28]

@Readyforthin... Where are you having your surgery done at? It does suck to have to pay but I am just so happy to have the financing to do it.

I am having it some with True Results in Phoenix. I was declined for Care Credit but true results is going to finance me for their portion. That takes care of just over $5000 of it. I will have to work out the rest when I get the bills.

[stephgfl 13]

I see that you're in FL, my surgeon was out of Florida Weight Loss Centers in Tampa. I was also self pay and the cost was just under $10,000. Hope this helps, good luck.

[Food_vs_Life 18]

Thanks for the info Steph.... If I can't get the doc here to do it for the $10,000 then I will definitely contact the doctors in Tampa. I have 30 days to find and pay a doctor before I have to reapply for my loan.