Decided not to wait for insurance & 1st support group meeting

[LynneB 0]

I called UHC today & found out that my plan does not cover any bariatric surgery at for any reason with no exceptions. I would be devastated if I hadnt already gotten financing approved to fall back on. So now, I just gotta figure out how to come up with an extra $600 a month for the next 5 years to pay off the loan. But, I called my Dr & told him I want to get started on the process so I should be getting a phone call tomorrow with my 1st apt date. I went to my first support group meeting last night & I felt kinda out of place since I was the only one there under the age of 55, but I liked it & I will be going every month. So at least now I am on my way & there is an end in sight with no ins hassles!! I am so excited!!!

[wombat712 2]

Wow that sounds kindof high. What price is your surgeon charging for the lapband?

Mine was $13,000 in Houston TX. I considered Mexico but my DH was against that. With the cost of traveling, I only needed about 2K to get it done in the states. He felt it was worth it to do it here.

Also - you do save money on food which can help with budgeting those payments. I don't think I save as much as they estimate you can because I'm buying healthier food which isn't as cheap as pre-packaged stuff.

Anyway - good luck to you!!

wombat

[surfbored 0]

Tell your doctor that you will be paying cash. My surgery was covered by insurance, but I understand that many surgeons have different fees for those paying cash. Same thing for the charge for fills - some do them free for a period for cash patients. Your loan may not have to be as much as you think.

[Leena 108]

That does sound expensive. My surgery was self-pay-financed. I pay $400/month for the next three years for surgery costs of 13,000. $600 month for 5 years sounds high, that would mean you'd pay back $36,000 in 5 years, with a certain percent of that being interest. But it sounds like the intial cost of your lap-band surgery is on the higher side as well.

[wombat712 2]

Yep - mine is $13,000 over 5 years - $350 pymt.

I'm hoping to pay it off early so I can get another loan for some plastics