I was wondering how ppl get the money to self pay? I will be a self payer also but can barley afford my bills right now as in having a child with disabilities. Any tips would be great! My credit is not so great so no financing for me. My insurance won't cover it either.

Hi - My Surgeon suggested that I borrow money from my 401K. You pay yourself back with interest. Could be an option for you.

have you been with the same bank for a long period of time? any local credit unions you can join? maybe put up something as collateral? a vehicle or ??

Getting someone to cosign could also be a possibility, altho be very careful with that option. If you default, your cosigner defaults as well. Won't make them very happy.

Have anything you can sell? Any type of side work you can do from home? Maybe watch someone's child while you are at home with your's?

Maybe someone can loan you the money? Sign a promissory note with terms to protect yourself and the person who lends the money.

Have you tried applying for any loans? All they can say is no : ) The interest rate might be lousy but if you can pay just a little extra every month, the interest will be lower in the long run.

Good Luck! It is an amazing surgery ~ I hope you find a way!

Wow! Thanks for all the help. Those are great suggestions and I will look into them! Glad your doing great with urs! Hopefully ill get mine next year!

Thanks ladies!

I sacrificed for a year and a half. I don't have children to pay for so I was able to save everything I made. No spending of any kind except for a magasine every month and the occasional candy bar. My wardrobe consists of one week's worth of clothing and four pairs of shoes. Every nickel got saved, I spent the very bare minimum. Now I can have the surgery I want, with the surgeon I want, in the city I want. Worth it!!

Wow Globetrotter, that's awesome! I will have my tax money to use next year so that's a start for saving! Good luck to you and keep me updated on who you use and how you like them! I want to know any and everything so I will be prepared when my time comes! Thanks a bunch!

K

I am a 'self-pay patient'. Our house is paid-off and so we got a Home-Equity Loan. Plan is to have it paid off in 18 months.

I took a 401k loan for something else, and it turned out to save me a ton of money. The market went way down after and I was buying back the stock at a lower price. Heck, I have taken a 401k loan before, just to limit my exposure to a volatile market. Oh, and god help us if we get a more volatile market then this one.

I was fortunate that I have been with the same credit union for a long time, I got a loan against a vehicle. I will say though, that I am going to Mexico because there was no way I could afford self pay in the states. That being said, I am completely comfortable with my decision. Good luck, I really hope you can find a way to work it out.

There are lots of financing places out there, and if you find the right one, I bet you could get financing. The interest rate might suck, like someone else mentioned, but it might be a possibility.

Like Kathy, I am going to Mexico, because I didn't want to take out a huge loan. As it was, I had to put $500 down payment, and then my financing paid directly to the hospital/doctor.

Also, we made a budget, and realized how much money we are wasting every month on stupid crap (going to the arcade, movies, going out to eat and ordering Dominos, buying random crap at Target, buying coffee, running to Kohl's for just a few little things and spending $200 etc.) and that really helped put things in perspective. We have a certain amount budgeted for certain things every month, and if we keep track and stick with it, we will have plenty left over to pay about $400/month so we won't have to pay all that interest. It has also helped us save up some so that being off work won't be such a big deal, also.

Good luck!

The budgeting is a great idea.

I just want to remind you that after surgery, you will be eating alot less so your food budget will be much less. If you are on any prescription medications, more than likely it won't be long before you are able to stop some of them, especially if they were for blood pressure, diabetic problems. For example: Before my surgery, I was spending approx $500 a month of prescriptions. I am off all prescribed medications now except Prevacid solutabs which are $80 co-pay. I used the $420 plus the extra I was saving on food to pay off the loan I took out. I paid the loan off in 2 years instead of 4.

Wishing you all the very best on your weight loss journey!

I used money from my savings and went to Dr. Aceves in Mexico. It was 1/3 what it would have been at home.

Remember to keep receipts of all your medical bills for the year to deduct the medical costs from your tax return. Weight loss surgery for obesity is an approved medical tax deduction by the IRS.

I sacrificed for a year and a half. I don't have children to pay for so I was able to save everything I made. No spending of any kind except for a magasine every month and the occasional candy bar. My wardrobe consists of one week's worth of clothing and four pairs of shoes. Every nickel got saved, I spent the very bare minimum. Now I can have the surgery I want, with the surgeon I want, in the city I want. Worth it!!

THAT is commendable! It's so contrary to today's borrow and spend mentality! Good for you!! I wish you the best of success in your WL journey.