Has Anyone Had To Self Pay For Their Surgery I Could Use Some Advice!!!

[Karen H 0]

Pink and anyone else interested--

just to cover my big A$$... check out IRS Topic 502 (their publication 502) regarding med/dental expenses. It's different for self employed vs. the other 75% of america.

http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc502.html

Oh, especially those who had the surgery and had to travel---- be sure to read that is deductible as well... :clap2:

[Slocumna 0]

I was a self pay in St Petersburg Florida ant it was 17,000. Actually took a loan against the house because like you my health is wirth more. I am being banded on October 3, 2006. They are making me bring cashier checks for the hospital, doctor, and 3 others. Amazing !!!! Best of luck in getting banded!!!!

[Jadedlady1 0]

Hi pink,

I had mine (self-pay)in Mexico with Dr. Rumbault and it was 10,600 which did not cover air fare. I had to find a fill Dr. in Florida which is pricey or fly back to Mexico for $100 fills. Dr. was great though. I did a home equity loan to pay for mine. Good luck!!!

[*susan* 1,709]

I was also self-pay in Florida. My cost was $16,500.00. That price includes anything and everything that has to do with my band for one year; meaning fills, monthly visits, nutritionist visits, support group and any complications that arise. My port flipped and I had to have revision surgery last month to correct it and I did not pay a dime for the additional surgery.

We refinanced our house to pay for the surgery. I believe inamed also has a finance program on their website.

[JAYPEEDEE707 0]

What a great price! Who was your doctor? Would you recommend him/her?

DId you also have to pay for consult with a psychologist, nutritionist, pulmonologist, etc?

I am in Il and in addition to the cost they want me to pay for visits to all these extra mds.

Thanks.

Jade

Hi,

I ended up self paying as our insurance wanted me to do another 6 month diet and I figured if I lost the weight then they wouldn't pay anyway. My main issue is that I can lose the weight, but keeping it off is not easy. The band would be a helpful tool for this.

I had my surgery done for 11,000 in Blackfoot, Idaho. This is about 30 minutes from where we live. if you are covered by insurance they charge 15,000. They also do it in Idaho Falls,Idaho for about the same price. This covers the fills and dr. appointments post op for a year. Then the fills self pay are 100.00 each. I had to pay it all up front two days prior to surgery.

I had sugery on August 17th and have lost 26 pounds thus far , and will have my first fill today!

Paige

[pbrown 0]

yes, Everyone has to go to see the nutritionist, etc and have chest x-rays etc and for me it was at my own cost and was not included in the 11,000. My dr. was just great I see him every two weeks since surgery and had my first fill two days ago and go back in another two weeks. I always see him and not just the nurse, like some banders that have said they never see the dr. after their surgery only a nurse.

[LittleBird 0]

Another bit of info - if you can't do a home equity line of credit or put your surgery on a credit card, there are financing options - Capital One has a medical loan program and www.surgeryloans.com also has options.

[rsbg1 0]

Hello, I'm a self pay and I'm going to T.J. Mexico to see one of mexicos best Dr's. The Dr's name is Dr.Pedro Kuri checkhim out on the web. My price was $8950.00 and a $500.00 discount for getting a date of surg. picked out befor the end of Dec. and they give free fills. My banding is 1/31/07 my wife and I are going 1 day befor the surg. to do the pre-op tests, oh the price includes 1 or 2 days in a nice Hotel and free pick up and return to the air port in San Diago..Hope this helps,Ted P.S. Dr. Kuri has done over 2,500 lap bands..here is his web sight beliteweight.com or call him @ 1 888 223-4046:D

[green 6]

Pink, I had my work done in Toronto, Canada at the Toronto Lap Band Centre. This is the same clinic who performed Woodys' operation. Their fee is $16,000 but these are Canadian dollars. Canadian dollars are much cheaper than U.S. bucks; this usually means a third off but at times there is as much as a 40% discount on the exchange rate and that will bring an operation in Canada closer to the costs of a visit to a clinic in Mexico.

The Toronto Lap Band Centre not only performs the operation for that price but also includes, as I understand it, a lifetime's worth of aftercare. This means that all your fills are included in the fee.

There is also another excellent doctor in the Toronto area. His name is Dr. Coburn. If you are curious about finding a surgeon in Canada as an option I suggest that you visit the part of this site that is dedicated to Canadian chat.

I must mention to you that the best deals in town are those offered by the Mexican clinics and some of us Canadians have chosen to have our operations done in Mexico. From all that I have heard these surgeons have superb qualifications and reputations.

Where you choose to go is an issue of price and comfort level. Good luck, kiddo.

[bandiva 0]

I live in Canada and had my band done in Mexico by Dr. Ortiz. The cost was $8500 US plus airfare. I have no regrets and had an excellent first class experience. It is well worth it. I feel like I have bought an extension on my life. I had to get a line of credit, but in the long run, who cares. I am sure I wont regret it when I am 80!

[vintagehound 1]

I was banded in July in mexico (TJ) by Dr Kuri. I had a great experience! For the most part, the docs down there have done more Lapband surgeries than the US docs. My doc does any thing I need later, related to the band, for free. I went for a fill there also and it went great, under fluoroscope, no cost but a 95.00 hospital fee. Surgery was $8000.

Good Luck!

[bandlesswonder 0]

We run a private pay program for those of you interested. All fills for the first year is included. Outpatient if qualified is $16500.00.

Check us out at www.lapbandindiana.com. Dr McEwen is very motivated to help patients. We have lost a couple of patients to Mexico but we have done several at the self pay rate. We perform them at an outpatient surgery center and we always have excellent compliments.:clap2:

[cookgal 0]

I paid for my surgery without the help of insurance. I live in San Diego, CA so I went to Tijuana Mexico to get my surgery. Dr. Ortiz was great & his cost is $9500 on a regular basis but he has specials quite often for $8500, what I paid. I took a small loan out at my bank & paid if off over the next months. I was not able to get the surgery in the US, my BMI was not great enough but I didn't want to wait. All is well & I am on my way to being thin...I hope!

[serious 2]

I was a self pay and had my surgery done in Mexico with Dr. Rumbaut. The price was 10,600, airfare not included, but the preop tests, hospital stay, hotel and transportation to and from the airport was. Could not get the surgery done in the US because my BMI was too low. I did not want to have to gain 40# to have the surgery; the Mexican docs will do lower BMI patients. Also, I did not have to have evidence of having dieting or any psych eval, thank God. I plan to go back to Dr Rumbaut for my fills. However, I do have a doctor here just in case I have an emergency.

[ljones4521 4]

I too was self pay. I had my surgery done in Acuna, MExico by Dr. Jose Rodriguez. I pail $7,500.00 not including air fare. Hotel was included. If I had it to do over I would probably go to that doctor in Mexico that is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. Acuna was a bit scary for me. It was very poor and looked like "Mexico".