DFW Surgeons...financing options?

[Tropicana 0]

Does anyone know of any DFW lap band surgeons that have financing options for those who won't be covered by insurance and want to self pay?

[leatha_g 4]

Dr Veninga's office has flyers for Capital One's cosmetic loan program. Probably others do also.

[Feel2Young2B40 0]

Hi! I know I hear a comment about financing in the seminar I had with Dr. Carter in Arlington a few months ago. He's great by the way! So sweet and takes all the time in the world with you. I definitely recommend him. If you need details, feel free to PM me. Laura

[Tropicana 0]

Hi! I know I hear a comment about financing in the seminar I had with Dr. Carter in Arlington a few months ago. He's great by the way! So sweet and takes all the time in the world with you. I definitely recommend him. If you need details, feel free to PM me. Laura

How much did you surgery cost by the way? I'm trying to get a feel for how much DFW doctors are.

I am a graduate student and will be poor for a very long time. My decision is to postpone surgery for 3 more years while I save up some money to at least have half of it. (I am living strictly off financial aid). I'm hoping that after 3 years WLS will be like Lasik where there will be more options and much more inexpensive. Currently I don't have any morbidities (thank God) and I don't have a high enough BMI (34) to qualify for health coverage. I'm going to just do my best to stay my current weight (and maybe even lose it all!) But if by 3 yrs time I don't do that, I'm going to go for the surgery.

[Feel2Young2B40 0]

Hi! As far as cost, it's anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000 depending on where you live, the doctor, etc in the USA. Many of the other people on this site have gone to Mexico and I'll let them give you an idea of what the cost there is.

I was very fortunate that my health insurance covered the procedure minus a $250.00 deductible and will also cover the fills down the road. I've figured though, for what I pay for the insurance a month, I've probably paid for the band at least once! But I'm not complaining and very grateful! Laura

[Flutterby2b 0]

I've been to 3 seminars at The Surgery Center of Richardson. www.surgerycenterofrichardson.com. They do lapbands & fills exclusively. (They also have 1 surg room for pain mgmt and eye surg.) There are at least 8 Dr's that do the surgeries there. They say that Inamed has told them they have done the most lapbands in the US since the Surgery Center started 1 1/2 yrs ago. I believe it was 17,000. The Center Director told one of the groups I was in that the surg for private pay was $15,000 which includes a years worth of fills.

The challange that I have is they are not network with my insurance. :cry I'm not sure that they are network with any insurance???

Hope this may help.

[tambonzjo 7]

I am scheduled to have surgery with them this Thursday. I am having to pay out of pocket the $15,000. They are on several insurances. Mine just totally excluded obesity surgery of any kind. What insurance do you have?

[Flutterby2b 0]

Tammy-

I have United Healthcare Choice Plus. The only requirements are to have a BMI over 40, or over 35 w/ co-morbidities. I'm so there @ 42.6. And I'm a lucky one, my husbands employer has not excluded it from the medical benefit (yet.) But since the Surg Ctr of Richardson is not in UHC network, I hesitate to go, because the out of pocket will be so much greater then if I choose in network. And fills will be out of network too. It's the only thing that is keeping me from going there. $$ talks-- especially when it's scarce.

But I don't have to tell you that, especialy since your plan totally excludes MOS. (morbid obesity surg).

I think I'll actually call to speak w/ Melissa or the billing person (jasmine?) to see what my actualy cost would be. Then I'd be able to make the decision.

Best of Luck this Thursday. I'm excitted for you. (which Dr did you use?) Keep me posted.

[tambonzjo 7]

Are you sure Surg Center of Richardson is out of network for UHC? Ask the billing person how the facility fee will be billed to UHC. If Dr Benavides is in network (which he is, I have the same ins as you), then how can they use a Surgery center out of network? It kinda defeats the purpose of getting approved, ya know what I mean? Most surgery centers take almost all insurances due to the variety of doctors and procedures performed there. UHC is a big one in the DFW area. All of American Airlines, some of Verizon, and some other big ones that I can't remember are on UHC.

[princess_n_thep 2]

For surgery loans, the ones I checked into were:

www.lendingtree.com

and

www.surgeryloans.com

both of them came back with competitive rates at about 10%

[leatha_g 4]

Are you sure Surg Center of Richardson is out of network for UHC? Ask the billing person how the facility fee will be billed to UHC. If Dr Benavides is in network (which he is, I have the same ins as you), then how can they use a Surgery center out of network? It kinda defeats the purpose of getting approved, ya know what I mean? Most surgery centers take almost all insurances due to the variety of doctors and procedures performed there. UHC is a big one in the DFW area. All of American Airlines, some of Verizon, and some other big ones that I can't remember are on UHC.

The dilemma there is that the 'DR' is IN network, but the actual facility is not contracted with ANY insurance. They accept 'out of network' benefits.. or, that's the way it used to be.

[okiejudy 0]

Karri,

Dr. Veninga in Carrollton does it at Trinity Hospital. Then the Dr. and Hospital would be covered.

[Flutterby2b 0]

The dilemma there is that the 'DR' is IN network, but the actual facility is not contracted with ANY insurance. They accept 'out of network' benefits.. or, that's the way it used to be.

Leatha is correct. All the Dr's at The Surg Ctr of Richardson are In network for UHC, but the facility is Out of network. The Surg Center says they will accept what the insurance pays and only bill me the in network deductable and co pay. But I still have to come up w/ the higher (almost triple) out of network deductable.

UHC is not contracting with any new Ambulatory Surgery Centers in the area because there are an over abundance (I've asked. )

I know I'm whinning when others have to pay for the whole surg....

.....but I can still choose to go in network at Presby Plano w/ Dr. Hamn, or over to Dr. Veninga in Carrollton. (I haven't seen him yet. A friend had a RYN 2 yrs ago w/ him.) But I kind like the idea of having a Surg Center that specializes in the band and fills. In my mind, less complications occur since they only do the lap band. Decisions, decisions.

Hey Tammy- Best wishes & prayers for Thursday. Go get'em girl. Let me know how you like the Surg Ctr of Richardson. I have an open mind. It's my pocket book that is small. :cool:

[Feel2Young2B40 0]

Hi! I was in the same boat with an out of network facility first being suggested by Dr Carter's office. The new surgery center they just started using accepts out of network benefits so the doctor thought everything would be fine. However, my insurance policy does not have out of network benefits I discovered when I approached my insurance (UHC) company. So, I asked the doctor if he could do the surgery at an in network facility and that's when they suggested USMD (the old South Arlington Memorial Hospital). So, everything ended up being covered at USMD with the $250.00 deductible.

I would see if your surgeon would use another facility or you could also contact Dr. Carter in Arlington who I know is part of UHC.

[tambonzjo 7]

Karri,

Thanks for the words of encouragement! I am scheduled as his first case on Thursday at 7:30 am...hmmm...do I want to be first? A doctor with not enough coffee or a doctor with too much coffee? I wonder which is worse...LOL