can you give me any advice on how i should move forward without any insurance? I am prepared to pay the cost whatever it may be as long as i can get on a payment plan. Im just tired of being fat and taking antidepressants.

thanks

Talk with your doctor's office or the clinic/hospital he's working through. The clinic I used had a list of financial providers they worked with for financing - they themselves did not do payment plans - the whole shebang was due up front before surgery.

Good luck.

Most surgeons/clinics don't accept "payment plans" but as previous poster said, have financing options available. Since you will be paying, too, you can look around, go to several seminars, and pick the right surgeon with the right price. One thing many of us didn't realize in the "PREOP" stage....aftercare is VERY important with the lap band. So find out how much fills will be, if any "freebies" are included in your price (many offer 1 year of fills free) and also ask how problems will be handled...ie what if your port flips and you need a revision? What if you get an infection in the hospital? What if something else goes wrong? Odds are REALLY good you won't have a problem but find out how it will be handled if you do!

Good luck to you!

within the next 6 months i'll be graduating and looking for employment, I don't know if once my insurance kicks in I will qualify through the insurance. I mean is there some 2 year waiting period or something of the kind to get the insurance to cover it?

There's no way to tell what your insurance covers etc..depends on the company, the employer, and so on. TOO many variables to know right now.

Most surgeons/clinics don't accept "payment plans" but as previous poster said, have financing options available. Since you will be paying, too, you can look around, go to several seminars, and pick the right surgeon with the right price. One thing many of us didn't realize in the "PREOP" stage....aftercare is VERY important with the lap band. So find out how much fills will be, if any "freebies" are included in your price (many offer 1 year of fills free) and also ask how problems will be handled...ie what if your port flips and you need a revision? What if you get an infection in the hospital? What if something else goes wrong? Odds are REALLY good you won't have a problem but find out how it will be handled if you do!

Good luck to you!

what are fills?

Sorry I assumed you had researched the band and knew what it was, how it worked etc and were just wondering about financing! Fills are what's done to tighten the band so it will work.

Before you proceed with paying for this, I suggest attending some free seminars and doing some research...it may or may not be something you want to do! It is the least invasive WLS but does require more follow up care than some.

hi, sorry. I know all about the saline solution used to tighten the band, just haven't heard the term before. thanks for explaining. also, i have attended several seminars on the topic.

Good! I've only ever heard it called "fills"...so I didn't know there were places that did not call it that!

I was a self pay and was 'on the table' 3 wks after I said...'let's do it'. You will still have to have some tests done but it's a piece of cake and honestly...I am glad I didn't have to deal with the insurance crap.

Whatever you choose...to self pay or to wait and see if insurance later in life will cover...I wish you luck.

Rock on,

Ladybug

Hey there!

I get banded on Jan. 9th. YEAH! I went through: surgery loans.com. They were great! Good luck! I hate being fat and derpessed, too. God is good though!! I am counting on his help through this whole ordeal.

I also used surgeryloans.com for part of mine and the other part I went through care credit. My surgeon required payment in full one week in advance. It was really easy and I'm so glad I did it

That surgeryloans.com looks interesting.

I did a self-pay by spending my inheritance ahead of time (Thanks Mom!), but if I need a tummy tuck later on that might be a good source.

Good luck with the decision msde83.