So I called my insurance (Kaiser ***) to find out what my copay will be when I have the surgery, if it can be done outpatient, it would be $200. Or it will be $400 each day I’m in the hospital.

I have two questions:

1. Has anyone had the sleeve done as outpatient surgery?
   
2. Do you have to pay upfront or will hospitals bill you?
   

I have never had any type of surgery, so I’m new at this.

I belong to Kaiser and I had the Sleeve done at the West Los Angeles facility. I stayed in the hospital overnight and I paid nothing for the surgery nor for the stay in the hospital.

I have Kaiser as well, had surgery done at Kaiser West Los Angeles as well :-)

I didn't have to pay for anything but every plan is a little different. I stayed overnight, thats how long Kaiser keeps you unless you have complications. I would call the admitting department in regards to when and how payments are due and paid.

I got my sleeve through Kaiser Orange County and I had to get a referral to Dr. LePort's office. My Hospital stay was 2 nights and I just paid my copay! Which was really cheap.

Kaiser has a gazillion different coverages so yours is going to be different than others. My Kaiser cost was just the $150.00 for one night in the hospital. I don't think I even paid a surgical co-pay. If I did, it wasn't much. Good luck!

I had to stay two nights in the hospital because of pain management and nausea. My co-pay was $0 because I was in-patient. I don't think you can be outpatient if you are having vertical sleeve surgery. I think at least one night stay will be necessary.

CAN SOMEONE WHO HAD SURGERY AT WEST LA TELL ME WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I SEE THE SURGEON AND WHEN IS THE INSURANCE APPROVED OR HAS IT BEEN APPROVED THATS WHY I CAN SEE THE SURGEON. MY CO PAY IS 3500 THANKS MARRIOTT

I had surgery at West LA. Did you go to Options already? If you have been to Options already. Then at the Surgeon appointment. He/She will see if you have reached the 10% goal or are very close to it, if you are then they will set up a surgery date. Kaiser has approved as long as the surgeon says it a go! They usually will have the surgical coordinator call you to set up a surgical date and pre surgery appointment. On the pre surgery appointment you follow up with the surgeon once more, draw labs (if need be), see anesthesia, fill out paper work, apply for short term disability (if you plan to be off work). They are pretty good.