ipso_fatso

My surgery is scheduled for 12/23, best case is that I'll get out of the hospital on Christmas Eve, but more likely not until Christmas day. But I can't complain, I scheduled it this way on purpose because it makes it much easier to take an entire week off of work and then work from home for the second week if needed.

I talked to a good friend of mine who is an accountant and she said medical and dental expenses (including travel) is tax deductible. Doesn't matter where it's done....I'm going to Mexico. I believe it is entered on your schedule A and unreimbursed expenses over 7.5% of your adjusted gross income is deductible. I.e. If your adjusted gross income is 30,000, you can deduct all expenses over $2250. Unless, of course, you have an HSA insurance policy, then all money paid through the account is deductible.

**I am NOT an accountant, so don't take my advice as absolute truth

I believe this has been raised to 10% effective for tax year 2013, unfortunately. Because I make more money than my wife, she is going to "pay" for my surgery and then we are going to file separately this year to maximize the deduction.

I thought the spreadsheet was awesome! I could never do something like that! I tried finding the person who created it last night in order to give her proper credit but couldn't find her. I can't wait to start using it!

Here's the thread where the spreadsheet was originally posted:

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/264421-measures-measures-measures/?hl=%2Bmeasuresblank#entry2975471

Edit - nevermind, I see AR beat me to it.

Not sure if I'm following you - do you mean to contact a patient who had the surgery in Mexico? If so, not a bad idea, but I'm already committed to having the surgery in Houston. I'm fortunate to have enough money saved to pay for the surgery, although it will pretty much wipe out my savings. But I look at it as an investment in myself and my future, and in that sense I am surprisingly OK about paying for the surgery out of pocket despite being a cheap bastard most of the time.

I am self pay in Houston, going with Dr. Brian Mirza. I talked to several friends who are doctors and read a ton of reviews online and the surgeons in Houston who I would consider to be in the "top tier" (Yu, Scarborough, Mirza, St. Laurent, Ferrari, Davis, Thomas, etc.) were all in the $12,000 - $14,000 range for self pay VSG. A few stated that if the EGD reveals a hiatal hernia, then my insurance may pay a portion of the costs, generally around $2,000 - $3,000.

If it was solely up to me, I would have looked more at the Mexico options, but I would have had a hard time convincing my wife and family that it was safe. Plus I like the continuity of having all my pre-op and post-op care through Dr. Mirza's office.

Welcome to the 12-23 club. At least we should be getting out on Christmas day

Hello all. I am scheduled for December 23rd. Male, 40, 5'11", overweight my whole life (currently at 409; in the past 10 years I've been as high as 433 and as low as 366). My insurance does not cover any bariatric surgery, regardless of co-morbidities (of which I have plenty), so going the cash pay/self pay route. If the EGD confirms the presence of a hiatal hernia, insurance will pay for about 25% of the total costs, which would be nice. (Never in my life did I expect to be hoping for a hernia.)

My surgeon still requires most of the typical pre-op items even though I'm cash pay, so far everything has gone well. My PCP was able to do the blood work, ECG, gall bladder ultrasound, etc. Already met with the nutritionist and the psychologist. Only major hurdle left, other than the dreaded pre-op diet, is the EGD, which is scheduled for early December.

I spent this weekend having my final round of food funerals and am starting the pre-op diet today. (If the concept of a "food funeral" doesn't provide an insight into my dysfunctional relationship with food, I don't know what does.) My surgeon would like me to lose 25-30 pounds prior to surgery, which I can easily do in 5 weeks if I stick to the diet. So far, so good (5 hours down; 4.999 weeks to go. Cravings, what cravings?)

I have been slowly telling people, first my wife (who was obviously involved in the decision), then immediate family, then my boss, and now a few close friends. Everyone, so far, has been extremely supportive. I am ready to have this now and get it over with, but waiting until the end of December will make things much easier in terms of missing work.

December 23rd here. Starting the first stage of the pre-op diet today, gradually transitioning to liquid diet.

Thank you so much for sharing. I couldn't pull my eyes away. My husband watched with me and we were wondering, do the staples stay in forever?. I haven't asked my doctor about that yet. Again thanks for sharing.

Yes - staples stay in forever and (hopefully) make sure you never develop a leak.

Good info here on bougies:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/carmelita/blog/2011/03/31/-2/

Thanks for sharing. This seemed a little bloodier than other surgeries I've watching online. Obviously not an issue since you haven't had any complications, just curious if that jumped out at anyone else.

Ajb - thanks again for the info, I am going to call UHC and see what I can find out.

I did learn that UHC has good coverage if I have a hiatal hernia. Two doctors have told me that if an EGD reveals a hiatal hernia, insurance would cover that procedure and they could do the VSG for around $5,000 - $6,000 as an "add on", so I'm now in the unusual position of kind of hoping that I have an HH. (I don't have GERD or acid reflux more than once or twice per month, so I'm doubtful.)

You need to check with your ins co-- not the drs office. They have the last word. Also, with my letter in hand - I called ins co and they said I was not covered- kept persisting ( I have a letter). Finally got to the right person. This process is brutal---but don't give up until you are sure. The company you work for may have excluded WLS from your policy even though we both have UHC choice plus. I was told today it could take 2-6 weeks to get final approval- after completing all their hoop jumping- I am bummed. But not giving up- This will be so worth it. Hope it works out for you.

Thanks abj for the reply. What letter are you talking about - just a letter from my PCP recommending surgery or a letter from the WLS surgeon?

I also have UHC ChoicePlus and was told by two different doctor's offices that my employer's coverage has a specific exclusion for WLS, regardless of any co-morbidities (of which I have three). Has anyone else been told something similar?