Found out today that my specific group within united health care choice plus excludes bariatric surgery. Fabulous. So we are going to try and appeal it but overall plan on being private pay. Anyone know round about what the cost range is for sleeves?

Well my surgery in the UK is costing me £8050 and that includes a two year follow up. I don't know what your exchange rate is.

We don't have as many tests as you seem to have in the States.

For U.S. surgeons I have heard everything from $10,000 to $30,000 depending on where you are, the hospital, the doctor, etc.

For Mexican surgeons the prices tend to run from about $4,000 to $10,000, with most seeming to be about $5,000-6,000.

Washington State -Seattle Area

Bariatric Centers of Excellence,

Out patient surgical centers (Not in a hospital)

Prices range from $17,000 to $18,000 and that is with your insurance covering the pre-op tests billed against your comorbidities, like blood tests, psych evaluation, endoscopy, sleep test, etc.

The $18k price included BLIS self pay insurance.

I'm also in Washington state and I'm going down to Mexico for many reasons. The doctor I chose is Dr Aceves. He had far many more surgeries than the doctors here. He does 3 nights in the hospital and multiple leak tests over the span of those 3 days, also things they also don't do here. My flight is less than $250 and the rest is covered in their $8750 fee from the moment you get off the plane, including the first night in a hotel. Incredible reviews and his success rate (proper sleeve that doesn't restretch a bunch years later) is incredible. He was president of the Mexican bariatric society for years (they have been doing it longer than here.)

Hope that helps! I'm saving up and will use their financing they offer if needed. 2 months to go!

Research the private plans available on healthcare.gov and pick one of those up for a year and get the surgery done. $800-1000 a month is a lot Cheaper than 18k

Research the private plans available on healthcare.gov and pick one of those up for a year and get the surgery done. $800-1000 a month is a lot Cheaper than 18k

Unfortunately the health care plans (Obamacare) in Washington don't offer WLS, I even have a staffer of the Washington State Insurance Commissioner explaining why that is to me, but I can't wait any longer, I already delayed it one year to be added on to my husband's insurance, his company covered it - but then he got an amazing job offer and we decided he had to take it, but the new company doesn't cover it, so I am self-pay. The hubbie wouldn't green light Mexico, so we are staying home. ..

Regardless of if my insurance takes it, I am so going to Dr Aceves in Mexicali just over the border from San Diego. A good, complain free, well done sleeve is more important to me than being local with a doc who doesn't do as good a job in the sleeve. This doc is often fixing other people's bad sleeves. The cheaper price is just a bonus. (8750). My friend went to another doc that was even cheaper, 5k, but her hospital stay was just 1 night and she doesn't have a as tight a sleeve. I like 3 nights, and multiple L leak tests he does. In Washington they are starting to do outpatient! That scares me, send people home right after? That isn't substantial time to check for leaks, which tend to cause the deaths associated with sleeve.

In the US, wet go to whatever surgeon does the job. We don't look at their success, complications or how many of those surgeries they have actually done. Is entirely done on blind faith. It's so different in Mexico, some of the doctors there are much more experienced and have been doing it many more years longer than US doctors. Trust me, when I first heard Mexico from my friend, I was freaked out. Insurance could cover it in the US, after 9 months of jumping through hoops, but that isn't what I'm concerned with. Now after much research, I know I will get the best care and surgery possible.

That is awesome that you are confident with your Doctor, that is most important, in my opinion. I too am confident with my choice, going to a center that only does WLS and the Doctor is very experienced and well respected in the field. I think we both have made excellent choices!