Self Pay & Complications

[McButterpants 2,846]

I have my surgery in Mexico. My pcp does my follow up care. Really all she did was look at my cuts and routine bloodwork every 3 months. My insurance did cover it. I have only had to pay my normal co pay.

You are correct if you go to your PCP for aftercare - I was talking about going to a bariatric surgeon for aftercare.

My PCP didn't feel comfortable providing that and with the bariatric surgeon, I will get the benefit of post-op nutritional advice.

My PCP will order the bloodwork which should be covered as long as they don't code the orders as weight loss related. I got a bill last month for over $1000 for pre-op testing and blood work. They entered the insurance codes with Weight Loss being the first one, so the insurance company rejected it. I contacted the hospital and they moved the Weight Loss code to the bottom and one of the other codes to the top and resubmitted. It was then promptly paid. Ahh you gotta love the insurance biz.

[Tammy Meyers 5]

Call you insurance company. I was self pay and I called my insurance company and they told me that as long as I am discharged from the Surgery Center, and have to go to the ER I was covered.

Thank God I didn't have to go. I had surgery 10/14/2013. And today 63 pounds down.

[Kindle 8,667]

McButterpants, what did your follow up visits consist of? My Mexico surgeon has a nutritionist I can consult with via email or phone, but wonder if I'm missing out on something by not going to see a physician. I have detailed instructions for diet and exercise and I'm not scheduled for routine bloodwork till 3 months out.

[McButterpants 2,846]

McButterpants, what did your follow up visits consist of? My Mexico surgeon has a nutritionist I can consult with via email or phone, but wonder if I'm missing out on something by not going to see a physician. I have detailed instructions for diet and exercise and I'm not scheduled for routine bloodwork till 3 months out.

I followed up at week 2 - she checked my incisions and we talked about what I needed to do be between weeks 2 and 6. (Along w/ the standard, blood pressure, heart rate, listened to my heart and belly). Consulted w/ dietitian about moving to puree, then soft.

Week 6 follow up - they tested my lean muscle mass and body fat and the standard stuff mentioned above. Meeting w/ NUT basically she approved all foods. Labs ordered.

If your surgeon allows access to the NUT, you're probably good. My doc had a NUT, but she was impossible to get a hold of. My local doc is a bariatric NUT, so I can discuss that with her as well as their clinic NUT. I like the security of seeing the local doc - that's just me, I'm a nervous Nellie and wanted that aftercare.

I've been in contact with people who were self-pay that got no guidance whatsoever - that would bother me.

[Kindle 8,667]

Thanks for the info. I've actually had good follow up from OCC. I emailed the nut once and received response the next day. I also called to ask some questions about my recovery and adding certain meds and Dr. So, the followup doc returned my call the next day (I told the receptionist it wasn't an emergency). They also send out weekly and eventually monthly surveys to keep track of patient's progress. But I'm a bit of a nervous Nellie myself, so it does make me a little uneasy not to have "hands on" followup with my surgeon.