How much does this cost???

kuchsgirl · February 21, 2007

Hello everyone, I'm Carla new to the site and the surgery stuff. I have gone through just about all the stuff that you have to do before you have the surgery so insurance will pay for it. Spent lots of money and lot's of miles to get to all the different doc's I have to go to. WELL now our insurance company has changed and boom they say they don't cover this. I'm about ready scream right now. Can someone give me some advice, does the previous ins. company have to cover it? If there is no help how much does it cost out of pocket?

Thank you and good luck to you all out there!

Carla from MINNESOTA :think :help:

TracyinKS · February 21, 2007

First, find out why they don't cover it and appeal.

To answer your question..... the cost for self pay varies greatly. Lots of People on here ask this question when they are first starting out.

My best advice would be for you to read, read, read this entire site... do a search for SELF PAY.

Bascially in the United States, the lowest price I've heard is $9500 by Dr. K in Denver, other than that the prices go from AROUND 13.5K to 23K

LOTS and I mean YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY actually go to Mexico for this... do a search for Mexico and you will find a TON of info, prices are less than 10K for everything including lodging and transport to and from airport.. (I had no idea this was a viable option when I first ventured onto this site)

When you call around to your local places ask these questions:

1. How much is your self pay price?

2. What does that include? Fills, Aftercare, Dr., Hospital, pretests, anestheisa

3. How often to they fill (every 4 weeks if needed)

4. Do they charge for Unfils

5. Who pays if your port flips or you have a complication?

6. Do they do fills for people who weren't banded there... (i.e. Mexican bands, Canadian Bands, or even if they just moved to the area)

IF insurance wasn't paying for mine, I would either go to Dr. K in Denver or the Tallgrass surgical center in Topeka Kansas.. (but that is because I live in KC and a flight to Denver is cheap and Topeka is only an hour's drive)

OK... now the other options if you are self paying....... financing

a. Refinance your home

b. or Take out a HELOC (2nd)

c. 401K loan

d. Medical Credit Card like CareCredit or Capital One Credit

e. Credit card or multiple credit cards (especially if you can get the zero percent interest rate)

f. Win Lottery......... LOL

Hope this helps!