Hi all,

I'm new to the process, so I was hoping to see if y'all could help me with a few questions.

1) My insurance requires 6 months of documented weight loss, but not only would the end of the 6 months be an inconvenient time for me to get surgery as I'm a student, but it would also be a really long time to wait. I started on this in March, but skipped the last two appointments because I was having doubts about surgery the longer I had to wait. My parents have offered to pay for the surgery out of pocket, and I would be able to get it done in a couple of months after I have been able to learn more about the process (nutrition pre and post surgery, what I need to do after, etc) and it will be at a more convenient time for me. What do you guys think about this? I feel like if my insurance will cover it that I should wait, but that is so much time to talk myself out of it. I want this change, but I'm the type of person who goes back and forth on everything if I have a lot of time to think about something. Anyone else have this experience?

2) With self pay, what happens if you have complications? If this happened to you, did insurance cover the cost of complications? I will contact my insurance about this at some point, but I wanted to get a feel for what others have experienced.

3) I also need to get a hernia repaired that the surgeon said he would do during my gastric sleeve surgery. Can I submit the hernia part for insurance coverage if I do self pay for the actual sleeve part? Again, I will contact my insurance, but I just wanted to see what others have experienced.

Thanks for any insight!

Get your quote in writing and a list of exclusions. At least if something billing wise goes hay-wire, you have some documentation to justify your cause.

Wish you would have commented with this a couple weeks ago! I paid the $9400 for the surgery on 1/17. Just got a bill for almost $1800 for some blood work they had me do at the hospital few days before the surgery. So mad!

=( I'm sorry. I got it in writing an the hospital came back at me for $3000. LOL Can't bleed a turnip, an in Texas they can't do anything about it. Dispute the bill, if they go after your credit, go to the Federal Trade Commission for falsifying credit reporting data.

=( I'm sorry. I got it in writing an the hospital came back at me for $3000. LOL Can't bleed a turnip, an in Texas they can't do anything about it. Dispute the bill, if they go after your credit, go to the Federal Trade Commission for falsifying credit reporting data.

Thanks for the info! I will be fighting it! Can’t believe you were stuck with an extra 3k!

I wonder if your insurance will pick up preop testing? Mine paid for all blood work, patch eval, ekg, etc and all I had to do was a copay.



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1 minute ago, GassyGurl said:

I wonder if your insurance will pick up preop testing? Mine paid for all blood work, patch eval, ekg, etc and all I had to do was a copay.



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Mine did. Even the first Dr appointment. They did not pay for the hospital stay (part of it actually for hernia repair), nor the procedure it's self. Everything else they covered. Post op drugs and all.

I wonder if your insurance will pick up preop testing? Mine paid for all blood work, patch eval, ekg, etc and all I had to do was a copay.



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The hospital billed my insurance for all of that. The total billed was $9400 and I have to pay 20% which came out to almost $1800. I realize now I should have questioned why they sent me to the hospital to do the testing. I usually get billed $100 when I get lab work done at a regular lab. Only additional test would have been the EKG.

I think the majority of private insurances play dirty. Just hate to pay out any,money.

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I think the majority of private insurances play dirty. Just hate to pay out any,money.

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Its horrible. I just want to know how in the world the original bill could have been so damn high. $9400 is ridiculous!

I would have to say.. Looking hine sight, I'm happy with my decision, and getting insurance to pay for part was a relief. My othe option was to go to Mexico, which I'm not of the opinion would have been a bad decision.

3 hours ago, lindsayAK said:

Its horrible. I just want to know how in the world the original bill could have been so damn high. $9400 is ridiculous!

My cash cost was 10,000$. It's crazy, but at least I get to write it off on taxes.

My cash cost was 10,000$. It's crazy, but at least I get to write it off on taxes.

My cash pay was $9500 for the surgery plus this extra $1750 for pre op labs. Plus about $400 for other tests. Better be worth it!

9 hours ago, lindsayAK said:

My cash pay was $9500 for the surgery plus this extra $1750 for pre op labs. Plus about $400 for other tests. Better be worth it!

So far, YES. Down 80lbs and the doctor says I have 6 more months of weight loss. Almost Scarry.

So far, YES. Down 80lbs and the doctor says I have 6 more months of weight loss. Almost Scarry.

My daughter got a bill today 85,000 for surgery and another 1,600 anesthesia. After insurance she still will owe over 11,000. I told her someone screwed up...she will be calling this morning !

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On 2/6/2018 at 3:46 AM, Elizabeth 06388 said:

My daughter got a bill today 85,000 for surgery and another 1,600 anesthesia. After insurance she still will owe over 11,000. I told her someone screwed up...she will be calling this morning !

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The hospital did mess up my billing after the fact and came at me for another $4000. Thank God I got some pricing in writing g before hand. I called, talked to the cheif nursing officer and haven't heard from them since.