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

Did insurance cover complications from a surgery performed in Mexico?



Recommended Posts

Just curious. Did anyone have a surgery in Mexico and experience complications when you got home? Did your insurance cover the cost of the complications? Or did you get stuck with a huge bill from a US Doctor & Hospital?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had no complications from my surgery in Mexico.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, mbuczkowski said:

Personally, I bought medical tourism insurance as a just in case. But I had no complications

Sent from my SM-G920V using BariatricPal mobile app

I didn't not that there was such a thing as tourism insurance. Thanks for the info.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Does the tourism insurance only cover while you're in Mexico or also when you get home though?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

mbuczkowski,

If you don't mind me asking, who did you purchase medical tourism insurance through? I think my insurance has to cover emergency complications if I go to an in-network hospital, but not 100% sure. I am super worried about leaks over everything else.

Thanks!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Fepblue will not automatically deny claims, they told me they would treat it like any other claim, no matter whether the insurance was in or out of network, whether they paid the initial claim or if I was cash pay, or regardless where the surgery was performed.

There is also a company out of Columbia SC that offers an insurance policy for when you return. Premium based on amount of coverage and duration. When I checked it was like $450 for 30 days worth of coverage for like $250k. They reimburse you for complications, it's not like regular medical insurance.

Sent from my XT1254 using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was self pay in the US. I used my HSA. But I did have to go to the hospital afterwards because I over did it and got dehydrated. I did not have to pay for that hospital bill.

Good luck-

LA

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for your input. It will be worth a few hundred bucks to purchase a policy just in case something happens.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites


This is who I used.

Sent from my SM-G920V using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I figured if I had insurance, I was guaranteed to be healthy. If I didn't, I would have had a complication....its just my luck.

Sent from my SM-G920V using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was self pay in the US. I used my HSA. But I did have to go to the hospital afterwards because I over did it and got dehydrated. I did not have to pay for that hospital bill.

Good luck-

LA

Do you mind if I ask what you had done? I thought you couldn't use your HSA to pay for ps. I've been thinking about my options, I still have plenty of time but my surgeon told me ill need skin removal on my abdomen beforeI even had surgery and I was thinking about looking into a Tummy Tuck at the same time.

Sent from my SM-N920T using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was planning on getting a popular policy that covers for 5 day post op and includes some travel insurance but the company was not responsive when there was an issue at the very end of the online paperwork (everything had been in English except the last page for payment). I ended up not getting it and not needing it. Stateside, for a one month follow-up, I went to my PCP. My regular health insurance would not pay for that doctor visit.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sorry I did not realize I was in the plastic surgery forum . I was referring to my Mexican VSG surgery.[emoji238]

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

    ×