Ok. So I have everything done. I have insurance approval. I am anxiously awaiting to hear from the surgeon what my date will be. Instead when I answer the phone, it is the insurance people from their office. They proceed to inform me that I need to make payment arrangements for the $35,000.00 that my insurance does not cover. Are you kidding me? I can get the whole thing done in Mexico for under $5,000. And that doesnt even have insurance. I have been asking costs since I started this a year ago. And I get to find out two-three weeks before my potential surgery?!?! I am devastated, deflated and enraged all at the same time.

Ok. So I have everything done. I have insurance approval. I am anxiously awaiting to hear from the surgeon what my date will be. Instead when I answer the phone, it is the insurance people from their office. They proceed to inform me that I need to make payment arrangements for the $35,000.00 that my insurance does not cover. Are you kidding me? I can get the whole thing done in Mexico for under $5,000. And that doesnt even have insurance. I have been asking costs since I started this a year ago. And I get to find out two-three weeks before my potential surgery?!?! I am devastated, deflated and enraged all at the same time.

Are you sure its $35,000 not 3500. Are you just having the sleeve? I self paid for my surgery for less then $12,000

That figure sounds ridiculous. You can finance a BMW for that. Maybe call and get the details as to why it is so much? I have Kaiser and it was only a $400 copay.

Edited March 20, 201412 yr by kb88

Very sure. $35,000. I told the woman to repeat herself. Total for surgery was $50,000 but my insurance max is $15,000. Not happy.

That figure sounds ridiculous. You can finance a BMW for that. Maybe call and get the details as to why it is so much? I have Kaiser and it was only a $400 copay.

What is kaiser?

That's crazy. That sounds like robbery.

That's unbelievable! I was given the 50k price tag too, my copay was $1000 and much out of pocket maximum was 4k. I ended up paying all of it plus my surgeons program fee of $1500 so total $6500. You know darn well it doesn't cost 50k! Highway robbery!

Are you kidding me? I think that I would be looking for that trip to Mexico! That is definitely out of sight for your surgery. You should look elsewhere! $35,000 out of pocket is out of this world! Best wishes, Karen

You need to go to your group and ask then why their prices are so high. I want so a surgery center of excellence and the total cost was less than 26k. I paid $1k out of pocket (which is irrelevant) but a friend of mine who was self pay with the same group was able to negotiate a total pay of $15k because she was not covered.

My surgeon offers a self pay program for 12000. That's ridiculous that they are trying to steal money from you! Look hard at Mexico and find anew surgeon.

Utterly insane. I'm so sorry.

That's unbelievable! I was given the 50k price tag too, my copay was $1000 and much out of pocket maximum was 4k. I ended up paying all of it plus my surgeons program fee of $1500 so total $6500. You know darn well it doesn't cost 50k! Highway robbery!

Seela - is your doctor in Ventura? I also paid a $1,500 program fee, so I thought by chance we may have the same surgeon :-)

What is kaiser?

Kaiser Permanente - it's a huge H.M.O. They have their own hospitals and medical facilities. My family has been with Kaiser for many years. I let it go when I was in my early 20's.

Edited March 20, 201412 yr by mrsto

That was weird...... Why did the site asterisk out H.M.O.? I had to put periods after each letter so it would accept it. Weird. Not any swear word I know of!

Edited March 20, 201412 yr by mrsto

I was self pay completely. This procedure isn't covered by insurance in Canada. I paid $15K.

My local "Best Bariatric Surgeon in Portland" quoted me $35,000 for self pay for the sleeve as my insurance does not cover bariatric procedures. I ended up going to Dr Umbach in Vegas for $10,400.

There are a few screwy things with this ...

$35,000 is by far the highest I have heard for this surgery, so when you say your Dr charges $50,000, I would get a detailed breakdown of those costs. $15,000 max payout? For surgery? I have heard of max payouts for vision, but not for medical. If they are covering it, then it should fall into the same boat as other surgeries. Either it is covered or it isn't. Is this a rider which runs along side of your current policy? Perhaps involving your HR people might be best to understand this, but this seems unusual to me. Almost like your Dr's office is working you over a bit.

What is your insurance? Are there other bariatric surgeons covered?