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

AZ Self-Pay?



Recommended Posts

Hello!

Has anyone self-paid for a sleeve in Phoenix or Tucson (not looking to go to Mexico even though AZ is so close to the border)? If so what was the total cost, who was your surgeon, the office name, and the hospital where the surgery took place?

Thanks!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I did except I had insurance so I couldn't give you an exact price. I went to the Weight Loss Institute of Arizona. My doctor was Dr. Ho. The hospital I went to was Banner Estrella Hospital.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am self pay in Phoenix. I am using Evolve Weight Loss, Dr. Shawn Stevenson. I think price varies depending upon your situation. I am having a hernia repaired at the same time, so my insurance pays for a tiny bit of the fee. Very tiny! I am paying around $11,000.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I did self pay with Dr. Daniel Fang through the Bridges Center. St. Lukes Phoenix has a flat rate for self-pay and it was $13200 for the sleeve. I have not been billed the surgeon's and anesthesiologists fees but I estimate them to total around $3000.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I called WLIA for an estimate and I was told self-pay rate would be about $20,000.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yikes! I wonder if some of the price difference is dependent on whether or not you are doing this out-patient. My sleeve, scheduled for Jan. 17, will be out-patient. It seems most of the posts I've seen on here indicate a 2-3 day hospital stay is the norm. I am assuming if this was unsafe to do out-patient, they wouldn't do it. Or so I hope! :unsure:

I called WLIA for an estimate and I was told self-pay rate would be about $20,000.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yikes! I wonder if some of the price difference is dependent on whether or not you are doing this out-patient. My sleeve, scheduled for Jan. 17, will be out-patient. It seems most of the posts I've seen on here indicate a 2-3 day hospital stay is the norm. I am assuming if this was unsafe to do out-patient, they wouldn't do it. Or so I hope! :unsure:

I called WLIA for an estimate and I was told self-pay rate would be about $20,000.

Thanks all for the feedback. I was wondering about out-patient vs. in-patient too. Personally I would probably want at least one night in the hospital, just because I tend to get dehydrated easily.

In Tucson I was quoted just over $18,000 with Dr. Chiasson for self-pay, hence why I am looking at Phoenix too. I'll probably look into Evolve. I was looking at their website and they seem to advertise ways to finance self-pay.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Another question - if I end up self-paying I'm assuming I would still need to see a psychologist and nutritionist for evaluations, get lab work and an EGD, but would I then not need to complete 6 months of medically supervised dieting?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The six months of prep is only an insurance requirement. You shouldn't have to do that if you're self pay. I thought the six months was frustrating. I just had my sleeve done at Honor Health, Scottsdale. I had insurance but they do take self pays also. They will give you all the rates if you call. But lots of options in AZ. I have friends who had it done at Tru Results with self pay and financing.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Another question - if I end up self-paying I'm assuming I would still need to see a psychologist and nutritionist for evaluations, get lab work and an EGD, but would I then not need to complete 6 months of medically supervised dieting?

Correct as far as I understand it. My dr. said he has about 30% of patients self-pay to avoid all the insurance company hoops. And he said the 6 month diet is most definitely an unnecessary hoop which is only there in the insurance companies' hopes that people will give up and not pursue the operation. It has zero bearing on whether surgery will be successful.

Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks all for the feedback. I am hoping to have surgery sooner than later (due to job issues, and a possible career change this summer), paying myself since insurance likely won't cover even if I do the 6 months of dieting anyways.

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

    ×