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

Even if you are a self pay...



Recommended Posts

Good morning all!

I was banded April 7th but had problems with my "flippin port"...it flipped over and they could not access it for fills. So they went in on May 25 and put me back under and re-attached it "with fishin line. Now it ain't gonna move!" per my doctor. I was a self pay for my surgery and had to pay an additonal $250 to go back into surgery to fix my port. They told me that even if United Healthcare would not pay for the initial surgery, they probably would pay for the fills and the port repair. Well, last night I got my EOB from the May 25th surgery and they paid on it! Granted it was out of network and there was a $2000 deductible, but they still paid $2032.14! I am waiting to see what UHC does on the fills.

Hold on kids! There is still hope for some kind of payment!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

that is wonderful i ahve united health care also i am hoping to get banded in july i have been approved but havent rec. a date yet . so how much was your surgery . sandie

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good job getting insurance to cover something. I know I won't get anything out of insurance - and I work in the office that helps establish our insurance policy.

Think thin and good luck.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

HOORAY!!! I never even thought of checking with UHC to see if they would cover fills and aftercare!! They don't cover the surgery in Michigan. Thank you for (possibly) making my whole weekend!!!

Chris

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That is really good news. I am a self-pay because there is an exclusion in my policy for anything related to weight loss. They said that most school districts will exclude weight loss items "due to the large number of overweight teachers"! @*!

Anyway, I was worried about the possiblilty of complications not related to the surgery (reactions to meds, anesthesia, or worse). I am sure everything will be fine, but at $1000/day just for the hospital, I can't afford for much to go wrong.

I have a tentative surgery day of the 27th--I'm hoping there will be a cancellation and that I can move my date up. I have to go back to work Aug. 5.

Thanks for the info!

Colleen

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest searchin4me

Is there a way to make payments if you are self pay? How does that work does anyone know? Any help is appreciated I really want to get this done so I can start to feel better again.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was told by Inamed that there is a finance company that they have special consideration with for bandsters. If your band doctor is not familiar with this then call Inamed they can tell you more. ~Mandy

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest searchin4me

Thanks I will look into this but who or what is Inamed and where can I find the number?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Inamed makes the band. You can find them at www.inamed.com Good luck~Mandy

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest searchin4me

Thanks Mandy I found their number at the website and I plan to call them tomarrow.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I spoke with Don Mills at 1-800-624-4261 ext 4546 He was very helpful and sent me some material to submit to my insurance. Hope this helps~Mandy

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

    • 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.
    • 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.
  • 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

    ×