Financing, Flexible Spending Accounts, Tons of testing?!

warren.kristen · August 7, 2014

1) I will be self pay. Gulp. My insurance options for both myself and my spouse will not cover surgery. I have checked every enrollment period for several years. Any ideas or recommendations for financing ~$14-15k? Care credit is 14.5%+... No promos for my surgeon/hospital that I am aware of but I will confirm.

2) Bariatric surgery is not eligible for FSA, correct? I read and read and I don't think so.

3) Feeling overwhelmed. First appt w surgeon today $434. Nutritionist $75, sleep study TBD waiting on referral by PCP, psych eval $250, labs all covered through PCP for $25, pulmonology consult/chest X-ray/lung function testing... TBD, echo had one in 2009-2010 wonder if that will work? Is this all necessary if I am self pay??? I feel like I am working off a list that is designed for people to meet insurance requirements.

optimumhealthgurl · August 7, 2014

My insurance company didn't cover surgery either. Surgeon's fee was $4500 -which I put on a credit card and the hospital fee was $13k. The hospital required a $3k deposit and will bill me monthly installments for the next year without interest charges. I'm moving my credit card balances to a lower rate card. It wasn't the best financial situation, but there was an exclusion in my policy. My health was more important to me. CareCredit is also an option. Good luck, I know exactly how you are feeling right now!