So, I changed insurances to one that covers VSG. As per usual, there are 983 hoops to jump through as well as all the co-pays, deductible, and co-insurance payment for the surgery. I'd probably end up paying the same amount after all that. Honestly, after reading so much here, I'd almost just rather forget the insurance crap & head to Mexico!! Has anyone done this? Thoughts?

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I didn't, but I very seriously considered it. I ended up deciding that the travel from my home to Mexico and back was a lot of hassle as well, and to stick with my local surgeon. I relied heavily on the follow-up and guidance I got from my surgical team, and for that reason I think I made the right call for me. I do think the medical care you get in Mexico can be as excellent as the care you get here in the US if you choose the right doctor and facility. That was never an issue for me. Good luck in your decision!

So, I changed insurances to one that covers VSG. As per usual, there are 983 hoops to jump through as well as all the co-pays, deductible, and co-insurance payment for the surgery. I'd probably end up paying the same amount after all that. Honestly, after reading so much here, I'd almost just rather forget the insurance crap & head to Mexico!! Has anyone done this? Thoughts?

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Hi, please feel free to ask any question regarding the surgical procedures. We can schedule a phone, Skype or facetime consultation to answer all your doubts!!

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My experience with insurance wasn't that bad, Yes, there were hassles, but in the end. I probably spent less than 2000 of my own actual dollars, so I'm not sure how that compares.

I didn't go to Mexico, but I self-payed. I was lucky to find a surgeon who has a reasonable self-pay fee. I paid partially with my medical flex account, my own money and a loan from my bank. If I had to travel after having this surgery, I think I'd cry. But that's just me, some people have been fine traveling back from Mexico.

I would have had to wait 5 years to qualify under my insurance. They require a documented history of a BMI over 40 and since I had lost and re-gained a bunch of weight on my own in the preceding years, I was JUST back up over a BMI of 40 when I decided to pursue surgery.

So, for me the choice was easy! Wait 5 year and then go through all the hoops and still end up paying a bunch of money for copays and deductibles and whatnot or have my surgery within the next couple of months.

So I did my research, picked a great surgeon, had a great experience, and I couldn't be happier. My PCP here in the States handled my follow-up bloodwork while my surgical team and nutritionist in Mexico answered all of my post-op questions and concerns. Worked out really great for me!

I jumped through all the hoops, missed time from work with all the required dr. appts, spent months trying to qualify and just ended up with a big fat denial. Mexico it was for me! Like @@JamieLogical, my PCP handled everything post op when i got back home.

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I jumped through all the hoops, missed time from work with all the required dr. appts, spent months trying to qualify and just ended up with a big fat denial. Mexico it was for me! Like @@JamieLogical, my PCP handled everything post op when i got back home.

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Oh, that's another excellent point. The amount of time you have to miss from work with all the appointments! I went to Mexico and still just took two weeks off for the surgery like I would have if I'd had it in the US. No other time off work leading up to that.

Actually, I didn't even miss a full two weeks from work, because I scheduled my surgery for Labor Day, which is a Holiday in the US, but not in Mexico!

@@fatgirlfreed hello, I have not had my surgery yet but I am jumping on the Mexico train. I had all my appointments scheduled in the U.S. But as @@O-Town Body Rock said it was just too many appointments and time off that I knew I wouldn't be able to take & I was nervous I would get denied because my insurance isn't the best so now I'm in the process of finding a surgeon in Mexico & I plan to go in the summer when my children are out of school & we'll just consider it a vacation.

@@fatgirlfreed It depends on who you are. If you can do your own research, and have a strong support network, it works very well. I am really glad I had mine done in Mexico. I thought the facilities were great. Huge room, very few surface areas for dust/germs to gather on. Rooms/halls mopped 3 times a day. No wonder the rate of infection was so low.

But I had a good NUT here, I knew what I was getting into, did emotional work ahead of time and kept up with my therapist during the journey. So know yourself. And there are great sites to evaluate surgeons and facilities.

So, I changed insurances to one that covers VSG. As per usual, there are 983 hoops to jump through as well as all the co-pays, deductible, and co-insurance payment for the surgery. I'd probably end up paying the same amount after all that. Honestly, after reading so much here, I'd almost just rather forget the insurance crap & head to Mexico!! Has anyone done this? Thoughts?

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Through a weird series of events I was given a pleasant surprise midway through my pre-op plan.

I found that I could self fund through the local center of excellence for less than what I'd have paid using my insurance. It may have been a bit more than Mexico.....but I was able to sleep in my own bed the night after surgery and all my follow up appointments have been a 5 minute drive. I can reach out to them with ease if ever the need should arise.

Ask around about self funding options. You may be amazed at the rates.

By doing so, I actually saved money and all the red tape was dropped. I was literally sleeved 3 weeks later.

Yes. Surgery wasn't covered under my plan. I waited awhile and finally did it on my own when I started having weight related issues. I wish that I'd done it sooner. The other big bonus is that for anything here I have to use whichever lose surgeon is in my network of crappy doctors. In Mexico I had my choice of anyone who wanted my money.

I just got sleeved by Dr. Illan (who posted above) on 12/28. The cost was fantastic, and the facilities and staff were professional and caring. My recovery is going really well. No complaints.

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I did for my first surgery - a Lap-Band. At the time (10 years ago) my insurance wouldn't approve me despite a qualifying BMI because I didn't have at least two qualifying comorbidities to go along with it (because it would be safer to wait until after I developed hypertension and diabetes right?!)

Anyways, I self-paid and went through a doctor in Mexico. I have no real complaints about my surgical experience, but what did make it especially hard was that the support system that you typically get with local surgical centers isn't there after surgery...so you're kind of on your own. If you're a super disciplined individual with zero food issues and you don't need that sort of thing, then no sweat. I definitely learned that the support component, at least for me, is essential.

I have no real complaints about my surgical experience, but what did make it especially hard was that the support system that you typically get with local surgical centers isn't there after surgery...so you're kind of on your own.

That really depends on which surgeon you choose. Several surgeons in Mexico offer extensive follow-up care. I am over 2 years out and I could call up my nutritionist at OCC today and get answers to my questions. They still send me questionnaires and check in with me regularly.

I would have needed to gain a substantial amount of weight to meet my insurance eligibility qualifications for coverage since my BMI hovered between 30 and 32, and then jump through a series of hoops and get entangled in red tape, and my out of pocket expenses actually would still be higher than what I paid for surgery in Mexico. Going through insurance would have cost around $5000, whereas with self-pay my surgery was $4200 which included two nights at the Marriott and ground transportation. I absolutely do not regret having surgery in Mexico. I had an extremely positive experience there, and in the 15 months since surgery have surpassed my goals and had minimal adverse effects (no leaks; discomfort but not intense pain during recovery; no loose skin; little hair loss; and my lab work is excellent). It was also awesome for me because I felt like I was far more in control. I was able to choose precisely when I wanted to have the surgery, and align the timing perfectly with when my parents were coming out to visit (they were my support team since my husband was working) and I still had a few weeks left before returning to work. The process was refreshingly simple. I didn't have to go through nutrition classes or psychological tests, but instead took it upon myself to learn about the surgery and the lifestyle changes I needed to make. I read medical studies through NCBI and medical journals, books from patients, and forums for personal experiences. Several reputable bariatric centers have information on their websites that anyone can access about the post-op eating phases and such, and my surgeon's staff also provided me with the information I needed. I also contacted the patients of the surgeons I was considering to get their perspectives, which boosted my confidence. I had surgery with Dr. Fernando Garcia, and really liked him and his staff.

My endocrinologist is the one who had suggested surgery to me because other patients struggling with PCOS had benefitted from it. She said that several had gone to Mexico since they also had BMIs under 35 and couldn't get coverage, and that they'd been successful. I still did have consultations with local surgeons; the surgery through them would have cost between $29,000 and $35,000. Since I live in LA, the drive down to Tijuana only took a morning. We parked at the border parking lot and were picked up and transported to the Marriott. We were returned there after surgery, and I felt well enough to go shopping at the outlet mall a block away, and to stop at scenic spots on the route home. My endocrinologist has provided me with follow-up care. I knew there were risks in going to Mexico, but I also knew there were risks right here.