Affordable and reputable doctors

[lovelylady530 3]

Has anyone been a self-pay gastric sleeve patient and had a very good doctor for approximately $5000 or less? I prefer to stay in and around $5000 but don't want a bad doctor either. Plz share costs, doctors and experiences. Thanks in advance!

[DarlaHood 7]

I self-payed for both my daughter's bypass and my sleeve surgery. I think that $5,000 is really, really low. I've seen Mexico prices that low, but I personally would never have surgery in Mexico. Our price was inclusive of doctor's visits, hospital, anesthesiologist, meds, pathology, and post-op GI. My daughter's was slightly more than $20K. Mine was about $19K. We have insurance, but unfortunately it has a bariatric surgery exclusion. Just FYI, if you have access to retirement funds, such as a 401-K, you can take a hardship withdrawal without penalty for uncovered medical expenses, and you can write medical expenses over 10% of your AGI off on your taxes. You did not say where you are from. I am in Southern California, so that is where our doctor is.

I will say that self-pay speeds up the process quite a bit. There still are tests required prior to surgery clearance (and those are not included in the cost). Chest x-ray, EKG, Doctor's clearance, Upper GI or Endoscopy, blood work, and Psych Eval. But there are no long waits for surgery if you get those done promptly.

Edited April 18, 2014 by DarlaHood

[lovelylady530 3]

Oh ok

[lovelylady530 3]

Thx