Well my LAP-BAND® adventure is over. I can't get the hospital to tell me how much it is going to cost. When I try they tell me it could be $20000 to $30000. I can't get any straight answer and it comes down to I can't afford it. I am very depressed about it. Like I said, I seen a light at the end of the tunnel and it was slammed shut.

What really makes me mad is if I was a self pay they offer a package deal that is $19000 but since I got a insurance approval they will not give me that.

I will stick to dieting and working out. Right I workout 6 days a week for 2 to 4 hours each session. I am bulking up with a lot of muscle but I just can't get the fat off. Even with a insane about of running and cardo. Right now I have my doctors dumbfounded on y I am not losing fat.

I just wanted to thank everyone for for their help. I guess I was born fat and will die fat, that's life.

Thank you everyone for your time.

I dont understand...if you have insurance approval why are you worried about the self pay cost?

PS...Im paying $18,000.

Many who have coverage for WLS through insurance still have significant out of pocket costs. Most surgeons and hospitals charge double, even triple the costs going through insurance than they do for those that are self-pay. I'm not sure if that's because of all of the insurance requirements and paperwork or if they charge insurance more to make up for the lower profit margin with the self-pay patients. In any case, I've read on here that out-of-pocket costs for those that were covered under surgery were anywhere between 2500-6500.

As I stated last my insurance will only cover $15000 total for weigh loss surgery. I got a estimate today for $23000. I was told by the hospital that they have a agreement with my insurance for a discounted price. The problem is they told me they could not tell me what that price is because it is a agreement with the insurance company and them.

So I called my insurance company and asked them. They also stated I was not "privileged" to that information but they have entered agreement with the hospital for a discounted price. I asked why I can't get that information and they told me it was confidential.

So I became a jerk and told asked them what right do they have to withhold information. Long story short I talked to mutable supervisors and got no where.

Any suggestions?

Policeman...have you tried asking the hospital what would be the charge if you were private pay? If you found that out, I would guess the insurance would pay the private pay rate or slightly more...maybe try playing "stump the dummy" with them and ask if the negotiated rate with your insurance is somewhere in that range. They have to understand where you're coming from...if you're going to have to pay out of pocket, you need to know what it will be. Good Luck!

Yes i just pd it out of pocket surgery 12-19-8

14,500 surgery 1800 for blood work and 380 to start the program,40 copay every time i went

so 19,000 is pretty close i got financed for the

14,500 through care credit payment is 250.00 but its worth it so far 26lbs gone so far

dont give up!!!

i think that anybody can lose weight even without the surgery if they really want to. ive seen people who weiged around 400 lbs and now their dwn to 200 just from diet and exercise. it may take long and it is dificult but anybody can do it if they really want.

Yes some people can do that

i have been going to curves 3 days a week 4 years

and the gym 3 days for 1 year and all i do is loose and gain so i cant do it without the surgery. More power to the special people who can!!

i think that anybody can lose weight even without the surgery if they really want to. ive seen people who weiged around 400 lbs and now their dwn to 200 just from diet and exercise. it may take long and it is dificult but anybody can do it if they really want.

Donna, if only that were true! There would be no need for lapband. Every single time I've gone on a diet it's been because I really wanted to lose weight. I've failed every single time. Like most lap-banders, "really wanting" to lose isn't enough.

i think that anybody can lose weight even without the surgery if they really want to. ive seen people who weiged around 400 lbs and now their dwn to 200 just from diet and exercise. it may take long and it is dificult but anybody can do it if they really want.

I went to they gym and exercised my brains out for 3 years and never lost an ounce. I thought I was dieting, but my portions must have been too big. I was never successful without the band. If that were true, all the people on LBT would not have gotten the band. Those that could lose the weight, gained it back plus more.

I don't get why Policeman does not go out of town. My dr.

is charging 10,000 for the band now. Even with plane fare, it would be way less. His complication rate is the lowest in

the entire Pacific Northwest. He is a center of excellence, which is almost unheard of for a town this small. They

went over his records and stats with a fine tooth comb. There are probably a lot of great surgeons closer, who are doing this for a much better price that what you have been quoted.

You can find someone cheaper. The recovery rate is going to be the same no matter where you go. It just depends on your body. It's getting fills that you need to figure out if you go out of town. Why finance a huge amount if you can get the surgery for a good price by another excellent surgeon?