Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

self-pay in the US.... how long did it take?



Recommended Posts

just curious for those who have done the self-pay route in the US ( esp Texas people :) ) - how long did it take from the time you decided to 1st consult to your actual surgery date? Just trying to prepare myself if this is going to take as long as it would with insurance (i.e. 3-6mo)

thx

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My decision day was 08/22/13 and my surgery date was 11/13/13...I could have done it sooner, but this was the time frame I was comfortable with.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm cash pay and the soonest they could see me was just shy of 3 weeks. I decided to wait though until after the holidays. I had surgery yesterday and for the most part it's been a cake walk. The gas issues everyone talks about are undeniably real- totally gotta walk it out. Also, I had my surgery in Texas, performed by the Nicholson clinic. They have a flat price of $12,200 for surgery. However, with all the additionals, the physical, Protein stuff, prep diet foods, I think i spent right at 13k. So far it's been worth it. I lost 5lbs between yesterday and today(. I know it's just Water weight but I'll take it!

jOshua

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm cash pay and the soonest they could see me was just shy of 3 weeks. I decided to wait though until after the holidays. I had surgery yesterday and for the most part it's been a cake walk. The gas issues everyone talks about are undeniably real- totally gotta walk it out. Also, I had my surgery in Texas, performed by the Nicholson clinic. They have a flat price of $12,200 for surgery. However, with all the additionals, the physical, Protein stuff, prep diet foods, I think i spent right at 13k. So far it's been worth it. I lost 5lbs between yesterday and today(. I know it's just Water weight but I'll take it!

jOshua

thanks! my surgeon's office (1st visit Friday) quoted cash as $15,500. While i'm not looking to cut corners (or give my mom a heart attack by going to Mexico), I'll be honest that it seems high.

anyone else in Houston area with self-pay prices? (Davis Clinic, Dr. St. Laurent, etc....)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm in Beaumont, TX and cost was $13500. Only extra thing I had to pay for was the first bucket of Protein Powder, some Liquid Protein, and Vitamins. First year of office visits are covered. 6 month membership to the Wellness Center and 5 visits with a personal trainer is also included. If you don't mind the 1.5 hour drive from Houston to Beaumont....worth checking out.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My first consultation was 1/3/15 and my surgery date is 2/11/15... Much faster than I had anticipated. Total cost $14k includes the preop costs thru one yr postop.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×