Self Pay -- What If There Are Complications After Surgery?

[Jenny12 361]

Right now my biggest concern is what if I have complications after surgery and need to be hospitalized or reoperated on. My insurance will not cover complications from weight loss surgery. Is there anything to be done about this? Should I just close my eyes, have the surgery, hope there are no complications and I don't go bankrupt from it?

[Kristi64 33]

I ended up staying an extra day and having a CT scan...I told them to send it to my insurance coded for the reasons i had the test done, will see...if nothinf else I wont have to pay it all off at once like the surgery cost. Ill get on a pay plan if i have to pay for it. Im so happy i had the surgery even with the extra cost. Good luck

[becksnky 25]

Have you chosen your surgeon yet? There are places that offer insurance for complications. Send me a PM if you want.

[iggychic 1,405]

You might review your policy carefully. Do they actually say that complications from WLS are not covered or is it a line that says complications from elective surgery aren't covered? Do they cover complications when you enter a hospital via an ER verses a normal doctors visit to discuss possible complications? If you are airlifted or ambulanced in do they cover? Many insurance programs do cover when it's an emergency verses a normal doctors visit.

But it's a valid question to ask. My complications look to be coming in right around half a million dollars or so. Secondary insurance is worth looking into prior to the surgery if you know you don't have coverage even with the ER caveat. For a few hundred, even a thousand bucks it's cheap money if you compare it to my bills

[SusieK710 130]

I am a self payer and would only do it with backup insurance. Call around to find a surgeon who qualifies for the programs. The insurances are picky on which doctors they will cover.