Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

My surgery/hospital cost breakdown for the curious



Recommended Posts

The last pending insurance claim for my surgery/hospital stay processed today, so I thought I'd give the cost breakdown for anyone who is interested.

Context: I live in Illinois and had my surgery at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo., through the Washington University WLS program. My primary surgeon was Dr. Arghavan Salles, though Dr. Christopher Eagon assisted. My surgery was on Feb. 15, and I went home on the afternoon of Feb. 17. My insurance is the Health Alliance POS 6300 Elite Silver CS plan, purchased through the Illinois Health Marketplace. I have a $1,000 deductible.

Laparscopic gastric bypass w/ Roux-en-Y: Billed = $5,100, My cost = $145.97 (I believe this is for Dr. Salles)
Laparscopic gastric bypass w/ Roux-en-Y: Billed = $2,550, My cost = $29.19 (I believe this is for Dr. Eagon)
Anesthesia gastric restrictive for morbid obesity: Billed = $3,360.00, My cost - $1,013.22 (includes $1,000 deductible)
Anesthesia gastric restrictive for morbid obesity: Billed = $3,360.00, My cost - $63.22 (not sure why there are two anesthesia charges)
Contrast X-ray - Esophagus: Billed = $123, My cost =$0

Each of the above were individual claims. Then there's the big one, for the hospital stay, which breaks out as follows:

Room-board/semi: $2,210.00
Pharmacy: $439.90
Med-sur supplies: $10,306.95
Sterile supply: $472.50
Laboratory OR (Lab): $35.00
Lab/Chemistry: $244.00
Lab/Hematology: $81.00
DX X-ray: $448.00
OR services: $23,365.00
Anesthesia: $8,336.00
Occup Therp/Eval: $259.00
Drugs/detail code: $698.15
Drugs/self-admin: $8.00
Recovery room: $2,460.00
Educ/training: $110.00
O.R. procedures for obesity W/O.CC/MCC: $0.00
TOTAL billed = $49,473.50, My cost = $100.00

All told, I only have to pay $1,351.60 out of $63,966.50, or roughly 2.11 percent of the overall cost, and my portion includes the $1,000 deductible. Without that, I'd only be responsible for $351.60, or 0.55 percent of the overall cost.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My total out of pocket cost was a $300.00 co-pay. Which I couldn't get my secondary insurance to cover.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am going through the same doctors as you are. My insurance changed on 5/1 and I am now waiting for insurance approval. I now have a $2500 out of pocket max but I have a 10% surgical co-pay that I have to pay on top of the OPM. I'm afraid of what I will have to pay.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My out of pocket cost was $1,150 and total chat for gastric sleeve was $26,574

HW: 256
SW: 238(4/25/18)
CW: 224
GW: 165

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Doesn't all this give you a Migraine? Its not my bill, but thinking of it all,Geesh! No wonder the insurance companies make such a profit, they charge high,⬆ pay low⬇. Dang their money grabbing hides.😝

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Mazel Tov Tanyamann32. Bariatric wise,definitely the Promised Land!😎

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I’m in St. Louis too, but I’m going down to Festus (Mercy-Jefferson) because my insurance covers it at 90% (opposed to its standard 80%) because that facility is considered a BCBS “Center if Excellence”. I am curious what my OOP will be at that coverage; my consult is in early July but I already have 4 of the 6 consecutive appointments and the psych apt done so fingers crossed that helps lol!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Lizette1122

      Anyone had the TORe procedure? How did it go? How much weight did you loose? 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • LadyVeteran1

      Sleeve surgery is on April 14th.  I am counting the days!!  Can't wait!
      · 3 replies
      1. Brookie2shoes

        Me too girl!! Are you in the full liquid diet right now? It’s sooooo hard!

      2. LadyVeteran1

        Not yet. I was told I only have to do 24 hours of a liquid diet. But I have my pre-op tomorrow so I’m going to confirm if I need to do longer.

      3. buildabetteranna

        Your so close now! It's gonna be great :) Wishing you a speedy recovery and looking forward to seeing how it goes!

    • buildabetteranna

      Down 33 lbs and slightly stalled, but I'm gonna reevaluate and push through. I started back to work last week after 2 years of being disabled due to mental health as well as my weight. It's a great job and I'm just so happy to have this opportunity at a second chance at life. Hope everyone is having their best journey ❤️ Together, we got this!
      · 2 replies
      1. DaisyChainOz

        Great work Anna! Keep it up 😁

      2. buildabetteranna

        Thank you ❤️

    • Bashbee91

      Hey guys new to the process looking forward to this new life. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Bugg

      Hi everyone! I’m brand new here. I just went through all my pre-op requirements per my insurance company and now everything has been submitted and I’m just waiting for final approval and my surgery date. I’ve been doing research, watching YouTube videos, TikTok’s, ect.. trying to prepare my mind and what to expect so I’ll be ready for the surgery. I was so sure and so set and so ready and excited. However, now that I’ve done everything & it’s almost here, I am sooooooo scared! I know why I want it bc I’ve tried everything and I just don’t feel like I can lose weight by myself. I’m tired of being overweight my entire life. I’m miserable, but I keep psyching myself out afraid of GERD bc I know how that can be and I don’t want to have to get a bypass after already gaining the courage to even get VSG. I’m scared of complications like I’mgoing to regret doing it and be depressed that I didn’t just be more disciplined and try again to lose the weight on my own even sitting here typing this knowing in my mind i just can’t and don’t possess the discipline. I’m also afraid I won’t be able to handle the restrictions of the sleeve. What do I eat? I don’t know how to eat healthy really and don’t enjoy healthy food. I don’t know how to do this! I feel so defeated!Someone tell me they felt anything similar to this or am I not ready? I thought I was. I am so tired of being sick and tired and so tired of myself and so tired of being stuck and stuck in this body and somebody different on the outside from what I feel inside. I just want to ball up and cry.
      · 1 reply
      1. stevieoriole

        Am feeling this right now. My surgery date is 4/1. Sign the consent tomorrow. I feel like I overloaded myself with too much info, too many opinions. Got to the point where I was wondering if I should do this. Then I thought of my reasons for taking this step and that settled my nerves. Still get moments of doubt but am striving forward. Am just going to follow my book from the surgeon. Joined this because I was told by my dietician that I should do this for support

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×