SELF PAYERS...please give me your insight

[Salinagetssleeved 58]

I went to a local surgery center that is a Bariatric Center of Excellence, and is affiliated with one of the largest local hospitals. Cost was $12,000 for a self-pay package. Since my insurance also excludes any complications from WLS I also spent another $1,400 for BLIS complication coverage. In addition the EGD was around $1,000 so the total cost to me was a little north of $14,000.

My surgeon doesn't offer payment plans but refers patients to Prosper funding. This was an interesting model that I hadn't been familiar with before. Basically it is crowd lending. You fill out your personal profile, state the amount you need and then investors buy small (or large) chunks of your loan in the marketplace. It took a few days for my loan offering to fully fund but the interest rate was decent, way less than a credit card, and it was a pretty simple process. They transferred the money to my checking account in a few days.

Then I used an affinity Visa card to actually pay the surgeon and hospital and racked up a good amount of airline miles to help pay for a vacation trip to Celebrate my weight loss!

Wow, thank you so much for this information!

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@@Salinagetssleeved did you see this?

I did!

[JamieLogical 8,713]

@@Salinagetssleeved I went to Dr. Ariel Ortiz at the Obesity Control Center. But, honestly, there are many many good surgeons out there performing surgeries out of various hospitals and surgical centers. That's definitely one thing you will want to consider if you go to Mexico. Do you prefer a hospital or a surgical center? If you prefer a hospital, you'll want to research them, because not all hospitals are created equal in Mexico.

[Salinagetssleeved 58]

@@Salinagetssleeved I went to Dr. Ariel Ortiz at the Obesity Control Center. But, honestly, there are many many good surgeons out there performing surgeries out of various hospitals and surgical centers. That's definitely one thing you will want to consider if you go to Mexico. Do you prefer a hospital or a surgical center? If you prefer a hospital, you'll want to research them, because not all hospitals are created equal in Mexico.

thanks Jamie! I am looking at going with Dr. Ramos Kelly. They give the option of either Clinica San Juan or hospital Angeles in Tijuana. My husband and I are leaning more towards the hospital. But I'm not sure yet.

[sizesevenpp 14]

I am having Gastric Sleeve Surgery on Jan 7th and I scheduled through Medical Tourism Corporation. My concierge is Cyrel and she has been instrumental in this process. I'm have the surgery at the Florence Hospital and my surgeon is Mario Camelo Ramos. The reviews are solid. The cost was $4088, with a $100 discount if confirmed with a $250 deposit before Dec 31st. I'm so excited!!!!

[ttdish 315]

I am also self-pay because my health insurance doesn't cover WLS. I am from CT and cost of self-pay there was outrageous (they want $25 - 30K - $17K was hospital fees). I looked both in the states and Mexico. There are a bunch of docs in the 10 - 15K range. Mexico was $5 - 8K depending on the plan. I compromised and got my sleeve on 12/7 in Boca Raton, FL with Dr. Kahlil Shillingford for $10,500. My parents live about 30 minutes away so it was easy for me to stay with them during recovery and a go back for routine visits. That price is all-inclusive - hospital stay, labs, all office visits for 1 year, etc. I opened a CareCredit account but found out later the "low" interest plan was 14.5%. So instead I shopped around for another credit card - found a Visa card with a $10K limit and qualified for 0% interest for 15 months. The other dr I considered was Dr Paul Wizman - his VSG is $11K and he offers BLIS for another $1500.

I did the same! Self pay in MN wasn't feasible for me, and I wasn't comfortable going to Mexico, so I did some research and found Dr. Shillingford! I flew down a day before surgery, and home a few days later. I wish I could have been there to take advantage of the pre-op testing and follow up that is included in the price, but even paying for my pre-op testing myself, it was a great deal. I'm now down about 73 pounds (sleeved 8/31), and have had no complications.

If you pay with a cashiers check instead of with credit, they'll knock off another $500 too! So mine was only $10,000.

~*~ Find me on YouTube: Trisha's Sleeve Story ~*~

[JapGirl 229]

For mexico do you need a passport? I've gotten some conflicting information. My plan is to go to dallas and have it done there, but if it falls through mexico is my back up plan.

[SHANA55 11]

I am having Gastric Sleeve Surgery on Jan 7th and I scheduled through Medical Tourism Corporation. My concierge is Cyrel and she has been instrumental in this process. I'm have the surgery at the florence Hospital and my surgeon is Mario Camelo Ramos. The reviews are solid. The cost was $4088, with a $100 discount if confirmed with a $250 deposit before Dec 31st. I'm so excited!!!!

So do you pay the $4088 the day of surgery?

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[JamieLogical 8,713]

For Mexico do you need a passport? I've gotten some conflicting information. My plan is to go to dallas and have it done there, but if it falls through mexico is my back up plan.

Sorry for the late reply. According to Mexican law you need a passport or passport card to enter Mexico from the US. However, I was not asked to show one when I crossed the border into Mexico. So there's a chance they won't ask you for it, though if they do ask you for it, you would be required to supply it or they could deny you entry.

You need a passport, passport card, or enhanced driver's license to reenter the United States from Mexico. I have red some people on here were able to cross back into the US with a normal driver's license and their birth certificate, but the law is pretty explicit and in my experience it has always been enforced. I live near the border with Canada and travel to Canada often and they are definitely pretty strict about me having my enhanced driver's license at least when returning to the US.

[JamieLogical 8,713]

@@Salinagetssleeved I went to Dr. Ariel Ortiz at the Obesity Control Center. But, honestly, there are many many good surgeons out there performing surgeries out of various hospitals and surgical centers. That's definitely one thing you will want to consider if you go to Mexico. Do you prefer a hospital or a surgical center? If you prefer a hospital, you'll want to research them, because not all hospitals are created equal in Mexico.

thanks Jamie! I am looking at going with Dr. Ramos Kelly. They give the option of either Clinica San Juan or hospital Angeles in Tijuana. My husband and I are leaning more towards the hospital. But I'm not sure yet.

I have heard good things about Hospital Angeles. If you are planning to have your surgery in a hospital in TJ, that seems to be the best option.

[Brettnbeth 7]

I too plan on going to Mexico, me sleeve surgery is Jan 27th. I have decided to go with Dr Altamirano and I am super excited. I love him! No I seriously love him. I will marry him when I go to Mexico, I already told him on our FaceTime chat.

[Mrs_O 118]

I too plan on going to Mexico, me sleeve surgery is Jan 27th. I have decided to go with Dr Altamirano and I am super excited. I love him! No I seriously love him. I will marry him when I go to Mexico, I already told him on our FaceTime chat.

I am also self pay (although here in the states instead of Mexico) and I got the call today to schedule and I am also getting sleeved on the 27th!

[JamieLogical 8,713]

@@Brettnbeth and @@Mrs_O Good luck to both of you!

[Pedro PinaSoria Perez 8]

What doctor did you go to? Where? How much did it cost you? Can I do a down payment and payments? I'm considering Mexico, trying to find out all my option!

All I know is that I am getting sleeved by any means necessary

What doctor did you go to? Where? How much did it cost you? Can I do a down payment and payments? I'm considering Mexico, trying to find out all my option!

All I know is that I am getting sleeved by any means necessary

Hi Shana55,

I'm Peter member of BariatricPal MX and gladly I can help you with your question, we have four Bariatric Surgeons as part of our staff: Dr. Carlos Altamirano Cano, Dr.Jesus Martin Lopez Dominguez, Dr. jaime Ponce de leon, Dr. Francisco Zavalza, you can check them at: http://teammx.bariatricpal.com/, or you can call us for more information.

619) 900-7345 Office Number

(844) WLS-DEAL / (844) 957-3325

Office Hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday thru Friday

[SHANA55 11]

What doctor did you go to? Where? How much did it cost you? Can I do a down payment and payments? I'm considering Mexico, trying to find out all my option!

All I know is that I am getting sleeved by any means necessary

What doctor did you go to? Where? How much did it cost you? Can I do a down payment and payments? I'm considering Mexico, trying to find out all my option!

All I know is that I am getting sleeved by any means necessary

Hi Shana55,

I'm Peter member of BariatricPal MX and gladly I can help you with your question, we have four Bariatric Surgeons as part of our staff: Dr. Carlos Altamirano Cano, Dr.Jesus Martin Lopez Dominguez, Dr. jaime Ponce de leon, Dr. Francisco Zavalza, you can check them at: http://teammx.bariatricpal.com/, or you can call us for more information.

619) 900-7345 Office Number

(844) WLS-DEAL / (844) 957-3325

Office Hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday thru Friday

Thank you very much for this information, I am actually considering Dr. A. I'm very excited about my future!

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[Pedro PinaSoria Perez 8]

What doctor did you go to? Where? How much did it cost you? Can I do a down payment and payments? I'm considering Mexico, trying to find out all my option!

All I know is that I am getting sleeved by any means necessary

What doctor did you go to? Where? How much did it cost you? Can I do a down payment and payments? I'm considering Mexico, trying to find out all my option!

All I know is that I am getting sleeved by any means necessary

ockquote>

Hi Shana55,

I'm Peter member of BariatricPal MX and gladly I can help you with your question, we have four Bariatric Surgeons as part of our staff: Dr. Carlos Altamirano Cano, Dr.Jesus Martin Lopez Dominguez, Dr. jaime Ponce de leon, Dr. Francisco Zavalza, you can check them at: http://teammx.bariatricpal.com/, or you can call us for more information.

619) 900-7345 Office Number

(844) WLS-DEAL / (844) 957-3325

Office Hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday thru Friday

Thank you very much for this information, I am actually considering Dr. A. I'm very excited about my future!

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Ok, cool, great option Dr. Carlos Altamirano. If you need anything that i can help you with in your process just let me know.