I've spent months reading everything I can about VSG. I researched doctors. Finally made the call. Looked at my husband's insurance and after he changed jobs this new employer does not allow BCBS to cover any weight loss program/surgery or complications.

So the surgeon's office doesn't seem to be that interested in working with a cash patient. It's 20K up front in two different checks - one to hospital and one to dr office. Does not include appointments with the surgeon which run $150-$550 per appointment depending on the 'level of care' they provided.

I don't want to go out of state or country.

I just assumed we had good insurance. I'm feeling really devastated and defeated. I had worked myself up to this ... I talked with my husband about it. I did so much research but didn't even think that our insurance wouldn't cover it. So stupid of me.

I guess back to nutrisystem ?

Dr Kim did my inverted sleeve 3 years ago and have no regrets. He has done over 7700 surgeries. He has a traveling patient program. He also has the hiatal hernia program for $4900. He so worth it!! We have an excellent private patient only facebook support group too that will help you a ton after surgery!

I've spent months reading everything I can about VSG. I researched doctors. Finally made the call. Looked at my husband's insurance and after he changed jobs this new employer does not allow BCBS to cover any weight loss program/surgery or complications.

So the surgeon's office doesn't seem to be that interested in working with a cash patient. It's 20K up front in two different checks - one to hospital and one to dr office. Does not include appointments with the surgeon which run $150-$550 per appointment depending on the 'level of care' they provided.

I don't want to go out of state or country.

I just assumed we had good insurance. I'm feeling really devastated and defeated. I had worked myself up to this ... I talked with my husband about it. I did so much research but didn't even think that our insurance wouldn't cover it. So stupid of me.

I guess back to nutrisystem ?

They seems very expensive. I have s friend that went through True Results and it was like $12k all inclusive .... Dr, hospital, follow up visits. Another doctor in Austin costs $15k all inclusive.

I personally went to Mexico and was very pleased and impressed and paid $5,000 including airfare. I hope you figure something out. Good luck!

I'm using True Results. I'm going through the HH program. I'm in Atlanta. However, flying to Dallas for my surgery. The total cost is about 14,oo.oo the insurance pays 7,000 and I'm responsible for the rest. The flight,Hotel,and car rental is included in that price.

The best part of it all is..The in house financing. You should check them out.

I live in Silicon Valley (Mountain View, CA), and the cost of 1 night at the hospital was over $80,000. The cool part is they had actual robots roaming the halls and in the elevators delivering meds and supplies across the hospital. I had no complications (pre-surgery BMI was around 35). I am in good health otherwise but blessed to have a great insurance plan provided by my employer (also in Silicon Valley). Attached is the Hospital Bill only and I have zero due since I have met my deductible. The Dr. billed the insurance separately around $8,000. I'm about 7 days out so wish me luck!

Edited July 27, 201511 yr by SnOwCrAsHeD

Really,

What did you have done? Why so much?

That price should have included plastic surgery and a personal chef...lol

You are blessed to have insurance company like that. I know everything is higher in California.

Open enrollment is coming up soon. Maybe your husband can get a plan just for himself and you find a plan on the healthcare exchange that covers WLS.

This is my plan!

I live In the North Texas area and did mine with Dr. Nicholson for $1249. I have BSBC but they wouldn't pay because I do not qualify to have insurance pay for surgery with simply being overweight. For that you have to be a BMI of 40 or over. I had BMI 35 which qualifies but you have to have a co-morbidity which if you have diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, or hiatal hernia. I did have a hiatal hernia which 99% of all overweight women have. You have heart burn or Gastric reflux? Chances are you have it. Nicholson sent me to get scoped, insurance will pay for , and surely enough I had it and insurance just knows you have hiatal hernia, and you get cleared. So, you might find another doctor in you area that has the setup to do it this way. Nicholson has the connections to get it at this price, usually $2100 on average..

Not all do have this connection I found out. I did try another doctor but way more expensive at $10,000 out of pocket. I liked him first in my area but tried to test me for sleep apnea I ended up not having, (cost me $295 out of pocket. W/ insurance. You just need to try a different doctor in your area or come to the Nicholson clinic. So don't give up just on one Doctor!

Oh and btw, my friend is one the Healthcare exchange and she was told it will cover her surgery but her deductible is so high that she'd have to pay $5,000 out of pocket before she she's to be cleared. Just a warning. Her BMI is over 40 and she has BSBC

I live in Silicon Valley (Mountain View, CA), and the cost of 1 night at the hospital was over $80,000. The cool part is they had actual robots roaming the halls and in the elevators delivering meds and supplies across the hospital. I had no complications (pre-surgery BMI was around 35). I am in good health otherwise but blessed to have a great insurance plan provided by my employer (also in Silicon Valley). Attached is the Hospital Bill only and I have zero due since I have met my deductible. The Dr. billed the insurance separately around $8,000. I'm about 7 days out so wish me luck!

Good grief! How can it cost that much??? ????

That sounds right, my wife haggled our hospital and surgeon payments and our part altogether with beginning to end was $4800, and we have a treat insurance that covered 90%, but I got a copy of the hospital overnight and it was $83000, which I think is ridiculous but hey who regulates them anyway??? , the funniest breakdown was the pain med I took after the morphine,y take home prescription was $79 which my co pay was 0, but the two doses I put the day after before I came home were $450, yeah that was the most expensive toilet paper I ever used, yet we look at the military spending $45.00 for a screwdriver, and don't think twice about regulating these outrageous hospital rates

I am cash paying Dr. Faulkenberry in Austin, TX. It is $9900 all inclusive.

Thanks all! I am feeling more positive and husband said we will make this happen one way or another.

Your first 3 post-op appointments should be included with the surgery. It is called bundling & they should do that. But call other offices in your area. I am sure there is more than 1 that will see a cash patient, even maybe work out a payment plan.

Also, google companies that might give you a grant or a loan to cover it.

Sorry this is happening to you.

Wish the very best to you.

Is switching insurance plans and just doing individual insurance for a year an option? BCBS open enrollment starts in November I believe - I was going to switch plans for the next year so I could get my surgery covered if it was an issue (it wasn't). Just a thought - I'm sure there's plans where your yearly out of pocket cost with deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance will be much less than 20k.

I am a self pay patient and it cost us over $20,000. We are self employed and switched insurance plans twice to try and get the surgery covered. Each time we were let down ... It drained us financially. I do feel guilty sometimes but I know it will improve my overall health and my families life as well. I hope it all works out for you !!