Cost sanity check

[SerendipityHappens 1,594]

Please also consider setting aside an additional 500-750 dollars. If your doctor discovers another problem such as hietal hernia they will fix it and add it to your cost. At least this is the case with many mexican doctors.

[tigerbelle 328]

iggy, trust me--I hear what you are saying...I had complications from surgery I had 3 years ago (was covered by insurance), and I stopped counting at around half a million dollars...I probably didn't clarify my meaning from that last post I made...I work for state government, and I've checked and know for sure that WLS is not covered and is specifically excluded...if I call with an inquiry about having surgery that is specifically covered by the plan, there is at least a 95% chance, they will tell me right up front that any complications as a result of the elective surgery will not be covered...now, if by the small chance of 5%, they actually say it could be covered depending on certain factors, I still won't have the answer I want for assurance, because I cannot anticipate what the factors would be...there is zero chance that they will tell me up front, pre-surgery that any complications will be covered...the downside is that if they tell me complications are not covered, and I unfortunately do have complications and try to make a claim, they will have record that they told me it was *not* covered...at least if I don't inquire, I can plead "ignorance" legitimately...am I prepared for a $500,000 hospital bill? absolutely not, and it would be financial ruin for me probably...should that risk of financial ruin impact my decision? I don't think so in my case, because I believe the chances of me living another five years even under my current health condition is pretty low...if there is some kind of supplemental insurance I can purchase up-front, I definitely will do that, even if it costs an extra $5,000...other than ruling out WLS altogether, I don't know what else I could do to prepare myself for a $500,000 or more hospital bill : (

[Wolfgirl1978 256]

iggy' date=' trust me--I hear what you are saying...I had complications from surgery I had 3 years ago (was covered by insurance), and I stopped counting at around half a million dollars...I probably didn't clarify my meaning from that last post I made...I work for state government, and I've checked and know for sure that WLS is not covered and is specifically excluded...if I call with an inquiry about having surgery that is specifically covered by the plan, there is at least a 95% chance, they will tell me right up front that any complications as a result of the elective surgery will not be covered...now, if by the small chance of 5%, they actually say it could be covered depending on certain factors, I still won't have the answer I want for assurance, because I cannot anticipate what the factors would be...there is zero chance that they will tell me up front, pre-surgery that any complications will be covered...the downside is that if they tell me complications are not covered, and I unfortunately do have complications and try to make a claim, they will have record that they told me it was *not* covered...at least if I don't inquire, I can plead "ignorance" legitimately...am I prepared for a 500,000 hospital bill? absolutely not, and it would be financial ruin for me probably...should that risk of financial ruin impact my decision? I don't think so in my case, because I believe the chances of me living another five years even under my current health condition is pretty low...if there is some kind of supplemental insurance I can purchase up-front, I definitely will do that, even if it costs an extra 5,000...other than ruling out WLS altogether, I don't know what else I could do to prepare myself for a 500,000 or more hospital bill : ([/quote']

You & I work for the same place, if you get brave and call our insurance about this, let me know what they say. I did not call to ask them either before my surgery because I thought they'd put a note in my file, lol. Luckily I had an easy, complication free recovery.

[tigerbelle 328]

wolfgirl..yes, so you know what I mean about that file note stuff...maybe others think we are paranoid, but they probably don't live in our state...I am glad your recovery was free of complications...you still doing well?

[Wolfgirl1978 256]

wolfgirl..yes' date=' so you know what I mean about that file note stuff...maybe others think we are paranoid, but they probably don't live in our state...I am glad your recovery was free of complications...you still doing well?[/quote']

I am doing great. 7 months out and 90lbs down. No problems whatsoever

[SoCalDixieGal 172]

I live in California with an *** policy through my non-govt employer. Legally, the insurance company has to provide me with a copy of my policy. For me, it's available online directly from the insurance company (United Healthcare).