Self Pay Patients

[anewbb 0]

Have you heard of Bliss insurance? It is an insurance policy that covers anything that might happen as a result of the band during surgery to one year post-op and costs about $900.00. I am paying the extra for piece of mind.

BLIS - Improving Access to Weight Loss Surgery

Who is your surgeon? I found out just because the dr is not listed on their site does not mean you can't work with them to get the drs & Hospitals signed on with BLIS.

Hugs

Rita

[PennyLane 0]

Shoot, I wish I'd written it down now, but I just read somewhere else on this site that some states have laws which say that insurance must provide coverage from any ongoing medical issue no matter what the point of origin is. Basically, they might not pay for the lap band but they do need to pay for anything that arises from it. Whoever said this works for an insurance company. I believe that I read it in the "complications" forum and I'd go and find it again but that forum seems to be down at the moment...

[WOWOX7 0]

I have to put my two cents in.... I started my journey january of 07. I researched and researched and went to differnet doctors. I CHOSE SELF PAY, one because I did not want to jump through the insurance hoops. I did not have to wait 9 months to have the surgery. I was very close to diabeties and was not willing to wait. Number two, I would have had to have the surgery at the hospital that I work at, and I really did not want everyone knowing my business. My Dr also performs surgery at New Hope Bariatrics. I had my surgery done out patient. No problems.

I dont think that self pay patients are at any more risk than insurance patients.

The Dr I chose is a leader in Lap Band surgerys in my area and has even TAUGHT other Drs to do the band. I was scheduled to have my band in Aug of 07. I had all of the medical testings done that a Insurance Patient would have. In those testings they found that my Calcium was way high and cancelled my surgery a few days before I was to have it. I WAS SELF PAY AND MY DR CANCELLED. I found out that I had Hyperparathyroidism. I would have been at a Huge risk "cardiac" during surgery. Thanks to god that my Dr CARED enough to cancel... was I mad.. hell yes. I had spent two weeks on a liquid diet. But the way I look at is that my Dr may have saved my life twice. 1st. during surgery, and 2nd. banding me so I can be healthy. I had my left lower pararthyroid removed on November 9th. I was cleared from my Lap band Dr to have surgery in Jan of 08.

I had my surgery on Jan 3rd of 08 and have lost 58 pounds.

You have to weigh the options, do your research.

I feel my Dr treats each patient the same, self pay or insurance.

I also have free fills and unfills for a year.. After that time.. I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. I do not have diabeties and off of blood pressure meds. You cant put a price tag on that.

Good luck to everyone.... Research, Research, Research.....

Lois Holcomb

[Great2BThin 5]

Lois,

Wow, what a story, that could've been scary. I had never heard of a parathyroid until a year ago and my dad through a blood test found out his Calcium levels were out of whack and he had surgery to remove some of his parathyroid as well. Congrats on your progress and being healthy again!!!

[WOWOX7 0]

It was scary, expecially when I found out what COULD have happened during surg. But all is well now. THANK GOD FOR MY LAP BAND DR. He was concerned about ME... not the money. I was self pay.

Good luck on your journey, please let me know if I can help you out in any way at all.

Lois