So, I have been denied twice and my appeal was just denied by UHC! My BMI is about 38 and I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in 2011. Insurance is stating that I would have to have the co-morbidity for 5 years in addition to the 5 years of weight history since I am below a BMI of 40. I have struggled with weight my entire life. I am 49 years old and I don't see this changing. I've lost weight several times over the years just to regain it, plus more! My parents both died in their mid 60's. both had high blood pressure and were overweight probably about the same as me as far as BMI. So, my question is..... Looking back at what you achieved, would you have gone through this having to pay yourself? I am not comfortable at this point going to Mexico so I will be checking with my doctor to see what he will charge me with no assistance from insurance. I am guessing around $20k. Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Wouldn't hurt to call him tomorrow & ask! Look at me...Im getting excitied for you!! Lol

Give him a call and talk to Him or his staff. His staff are nice & friendly. His initial consult was $200 so when I paid for the surgery my checks totaled $9600.

You would need someone with you after surgery. The first night you have to get up every 2 hours and with those leg sleeves & those wires it is difficult.

We stayed at the candlewood suites it was right at $100 a night and had full size refrigerator w/ ice maker, a dishwasher & soap, stove, microwave, toaster, coffee pot, dishes, silverware, pots, pans...(so hubby could eat and heat my Soup broth)

There was a desk, recliner, tv, we had 2 queen beds so I could sleep alone and not worry about him flipping & moving in the bed.

Mactrio and Woman in me, even though I go by Houston on the board, I don't live in Houston. I am in Iowa but originally from the South (LA/MS). Any idea how the doctor would handle someone this far away from him? I've done the nutritional visits and the psych exam here since I was planning to have the surgery locally. Do you think that I could get the blood work, EKG, and gi work done locally? Do you think that I would have to fly down first for a consultation and then again for the surgery? Thanks!

I went to my family dr for my labs & had him write the order for the EKG & X-rays (that way my ins would pay for it) then his office just faxed everything to Dr Borland's office.

My initial consult was 1/21/13, my testing was 1/29/13 & my surgery was 2/25/13 and it was a week late due to Mardi Gras and the dr was closed for 2 days.

i was lucky my insurance covered the sleeve...has always covered gastric bypass but the sleeve was picked up June 2011, i don't think care in Mexico isany lesssthan the u s ...it's getting there and back home again. i felt terrible for a good 10days....flying to SCOTLAND in 3weeks and still concerned about that....

My insurance did not cover the surgery. I paid $13,200 and have no regrets.

My advice is to take your time to make your decison. It's a big one. Good luck

I was self pay and had surgery in Mexico. I realize this is not an option for everyone and had it not been an option for me I would have paid out of pocket to have the surgery in the US.

My insurance did not cover any sort of WLS at all. I was self-pay in the US (approx $12k) and it's been worth every penny.

here's a question that I haven't seen addressed on the boards yet... My husband was laid off in Jan. 2013. We took Cobra so I could be sleeved on3.25.13' date=' Everything went fine, we are going to cancel our Cobra coverage now because we can't afford 1667.00 for Cobra, plus pay the mortgage, buy food, utilities.... My doctor's admin. assistant told me that everything after the surgery is covered for 90 days. Fellow sleevers, didi you have many blood tests, nutritional visits etc...

Thanks,

Carol[/quote']

Actually, I have had blood test at 6 months and will have another at 9 months. Many support group visits, but not sure if those actually cost anything. I have had the occasional clinic and ER visit when things got hairy. And then there will be the costs of plastics in the future. Hoping UHC will cover it since I am on the premium plus.

Mactrio and Woman in me, even though I go by Houston on the board, I don't live in Houston. I am in Iowa but originally from the South (LA/MS). Any idea how the doctor would handle someone this far away from him? I've done the nutritional visits and the psych exam here since I was planning to have the surgery locally. Do you think that I could get the blood work, EKG, and gi work done locally? Do you think that I would have to fly down first for a consultation and then again for the surgery? Thanks!

You might want to talk with Dr Stowers (http://www.mybariatricsolutions.com/). He is doing my surgery and I know a few people that have used him in the past. The cash price is $10,900 this includes 2-3 nights stay at the hospital plus check ups for a year. The only other out of pocket cost for cash payers is for your blood work for the 3 month checkups. Which they will take your blood in the office for free and all you have to pay is $300 to the lab. So $10,900 + $900 = $11,800.

Was denied by insurance on all levels of appeals. Had the same requirements and there was no wiggle room in my plan. I did self pay in the states for 17k. Had surgery five days ago and would pay again. Best decision I ever made. Only you can decide if self pay will work for you and where the the best place for you to have it done. Just remember to do a lot of research.

Thanks again for the great feedback!

My insurance covers 50%, but I did not want to jump through all the hoops they required, and didn't want to wait for months while I did those things, so I paid cash, about $14K. It has been worth every penny and I have never been sorry I didn't use insurance.

I did. 17k and 2 years of included follow up

What is the actual cost for this surgery in the us?

I was lucky, my insurance covered my surgery 100%... If I was in the posiiton before surgery to decide if I would pay out of pocket I am sure it would have been an EXTREMELY hard decision... However looking back I would pay out of pocket in a second!!! I would probably spend more then the cost of surgery throughout my life on yo-yo diets and weight watchers and pills and stuff like that...