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

Recommended Posts

Anyone else out there that has insurance that won't cover? I read that some surgeons will work with you. I am in Chicago. Any feedback is welcome!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My insurance doesn't cover bariatric procedures at all. There are some surgeons that will do it at a reduced cost if paid in cash. However, I decided to go to Mexico. I found a reputable company with an excellent surgeon. It was far, far less to have it done there and I had wonderful care.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My insurance covers nothing to do with WL. I made the decision to go to Mexico for my surgery. It was so much cheaper and all the reviews I read were so positive. Care was just as good or better than in the US. Despite living on the east coast the trip was not bad at all. Last but not least Bariatric Pal took fabulous care of me.

My insurance covers nothing to do with WL. I made the decision to go to Mexico for my surgery. It was so much cheaper and all the reviews I read were so positive. Care was just as good or better than in the US. Despite living on the east coast the trip was not bad at all. Last but not least Bariatric Pal took fabulous care of me.

My insurance covers nothing to do with WL. I made the decision to go to Mexico for my surgery. It was so much cheaper and all the reviews I read were so positive. Care was just as good or better than in the US. Despite living on the east coast the trip was not bad at all. Last but not least Bariatric Pal took fabulous care of me.

My insurance covers nothing to do with WL. I made the decision to go to Mexico for my surgery. It was so much cheaper and all the reviews I read were so positive. Care was just as good or better than in the US. Despite living on the east coast the trip was not bad at all. Last but not least Bariatric Pal took fabulous care of me.

My insurance covers nothing to do with WL. I made the decision to go to Mexico for my surgery. It was so much cheaper and all the reviews I read were so positive. Care was just as good or better than in the US. Despite living on the east coast the trip was not bad at all. Last but not least Bariatric Pal took fabulous care of me.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My insurance only covers WLS if you have a documented 5 year history with a BMI over 40. Well, I had lost 90 pounds "on my own" a couple of years prior to surgery and my BMI had JUST crept back up over 40 when I began researching WLS. So it was either pay for the surgery myself or stay fat almost 5 more years to qualify. I felt like they were punishing me for at least *trying* to lose the weight on my own!

Anyway, I ended up going to Mexico for my sleeve and now, instead of waiting around with a BMI over 40 for a couple more years, I've been at goal and maintaining the past 8 months!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Same here. Went to Tijuana. Had a great experience. No complications and practically no pain. Would do it again in a heart beat.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am in Chicago. I was looking at self-pay because I initially got denied by my insurance. The places I called were pretty expensive.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My insurance covers WLS but it required a six month waiting period. I was able to use my FSA for surgery in Tijuana. My surgery only cost me $3150.

Sent from my SM-G360T using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was a self pay out of the country. I went to the Dominican Republic. I would highly recommend it.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My insurance will not cover it, however......since I have a hiatal hernia, they will pay for the repair which covers a lot of the hospital charges.

Sent from my SM-G928V using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My insurance would only cover 1/2 the cost....which would have left me out of pocket $24,000.

By simply self-funding the surgery....my bariatric center only charged me $20,000.

Evidently the drop the rates severely for self pay folks. That $20,000 also included a insurance policy against any type of sleeve related complications that may occur.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

In Illinois it is going to cost so much to self pay you are going to have to go out of state, vegas, Missouri, or out of the country. I suggest Mexico or Blossom bariatric in Vegas

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My insurance covered it, but i know the advertised cost at my dr. Office is $11,111.

Sent from my LGLS991 using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My insurance would cover it - I've already jumped through all the hoops- but after deductible and copays, my out of pocket was going to be $9700 plus plane tickets to anchorage plus 2 weeks in a hotel (summer rates in Alaska=$200 a night). I'm going to Mexico next week instead and saving myself about $6,000.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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

    • 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.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Onedayatatime365

      Looking to connect with others who are also on the journey of better health. Post-Op Gastric Sleeve (4/11/24).
      · 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

    ×