Regarding: HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY?

Microsoft (DH's employer) is self insured and covered 100% with no copays.

I know I am very fortunate and I thank God for Microsoft each day.

I was very lucky that my health plan covered 100% of the sugery and follow-up after paying my co-pays for each doctor visit.

Does opportunity cost count?

My doc charged $8950 so I checked the appropriate box on the poll, but I do need to add another $700 for airfare for two plus $250 for this and that, tips, food, little MX sombreros for the kids, ya know. Then I went ahead and paid off what I owed on the Ready Credit which had built up behind my back and I was working on it and would have had it taken care of in 6-8 weeks but put it on the bill for the band...a few other consolidations...total financed on the equity line for me was $10,200 I think.

Oh, plus $650 so far in post-op...for 2 fills and 1 unfill.

I paid out of pocket $16, 750.00, plus psycho test $150.00, ouch!

Mine was $20,000.00 cash money.:eek

I paid $15,000.00 Canadian, Lap Band surgery is not covered by Health care here in Canada so it's up to the individual. It does cover gastric bypass but the wait time can be as much as 5 years. The interesting thing is that all follow up and any other potential problems are covered so If I needed to get the band removed it's free.

Cheers

I had insurance, but they only paid 80%; so I ended up paying $3200. I also had to cover the psych and nutritional evaluation out of pocket. Then there was a madatory seminar on the mental and emotional issues related to weight loss. All of that cost another $1000. So, about $4500...

I had to vote that I paid over $15,000...

The banding surgery itself was only $10,000, but the removal was $5,500 and the port repositioning was another $1,500 or so (can't really remember how much that was...)

Four fills at $100 a pop.

Medication.

Transportation.

Altogether, my banding experience cost at least $17,500.

Self-pay.

Ouch...

I paid $12,600 total. I financed 5k and paid for the rest from savings. I think that's a pretty good price for a US doc. My insurance pays for fills but not the surgery - what is that about???

Gosh, what insurance do you all have that is paying for this surgery? It seems like only United Healthcare insurance will pay for the surgery in Utah. I went to the doctor about two months ago because I thought I had a UTI. I mentioned that I'd had surgery a month prior and that the bleeding might have been surgery related. That little statement caused my insurance to deny payment for the doctor visit. Fortunately I was able to prove that it was due to kidney stones (a long story) and they paid for it. But they don't like you to even whisper lap band or you'll be paying out the nose. Consequently, I was self-pay, $12,500 which included a year of free follow-up and fills, and it was worth every penny.

Mine was $7,500 for the Bariatric Clinic costs (including all pre- and post-op testing and fills for 1 year) and $12,000 for the hospital. So...just under $20,000 total.

I'm curious to know if any given doctor is charging each patient the same amount and if not, why not? What's the pricing based on?

I paid 15,000.00 the week of surgery, 250. for psych, my insurance got billed anyway and paid for the upper GI, and my fills are free. I will have to pay for the first Dr. visit. So it is over 15, I had gallbladder removed and graft for hiatel hernia. No COE, Blue Cross (center of expertise) near Santa Barbara, CA. was not going to go to San Fransisco.

I forgot, my insurance paid all pre-op for I had it done by my wellness Dr. that really helped.....

All total, I paid AUD$1,800. Not too bad, really.