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Insurance Out...Self Pay In - HELP?!?!?!

gabi311b

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gabi311b    0

gabi311b
Posted

I haven't posted in so long but I am now at the point where I really want to get this ball rolling. I used to have Kaiser So Cal insurance and switched to Aetna PPO 1/1/09. I did this in the hopes that I could get approval through insurance but I keep getting blocked. It seems that even though I have a BMI over 40 right now that isn't good enough and they want to see a two year history of BMI >40. I have been 35+ for over two years but that isn't good enough either. I haven't even tried to go through insurance cause I don't want to get declined. I just want the damn surgery! I have been going to Overeaters Anonymous in order to deal with the emotional issues as to why I eat over everything so hopefully I will have all of my emotional ducks in a row once I get the surgery.

So, now I am in the process of finding doctors who will do patients that self pay. The doctor I wanted only does clients with self pay if they meet the criteria of getting insurance to cover but somehow get turned down. That was Dr. Martin @ Huntington Hospital in Pasadena.

I am really hoping that some of you can share some of your experiences, strengths and thoughts regarding doctors, self pay options, prices and any other advice you could possibly give me. I just need help and I feel like I keep coming up on dead ends...

I am in the Pasadena area and the surgeons that I am going to place calls to are Dr. Owen, Dr. Nazarian, Dr, Liu, Dr. Korman and Dr. Oliak. Does anyone have any other ideas? Any suggestions? Any reviews?

HELP?!?!?!?!?

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jackiebee    1

jackiebee
Posted

I didn't have a high enough BMI either yet I knew I was unhealthy and needed the surgery. I was self-pay but DID NOT SHOP AROUND. I am very happy with my surgury but probably pay too much money. I would shop around and check the forums and ask other bandsters in your area who they recommend etc.

It was the best thing I have done in my life and I am not even halfway to my goal. However, I feel so much better. I paid cash for my surgery but I would be willing to finance it had I not had the cash!

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TaraBell    0

TaraBell
Posted

I am self pay as well. My surgeon is Dr. Hamamji and i am getting the surgery done at Cosmeticare in Newport Beach, CA. Cost is $12,000.

Good luck on your search!

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monicapv    0

monicapv
Posted

I too am in the Los Angeles area and have just scheduled my appointment with Dr. Pedro Kuri (you can Google the name) in Tijuana. $7500! I was originally working with Dr. Owens office- but they charge $10500 for their surgery in Mexico. There are a few of Dr. Kuri's patients on here (again, do a search). I'm a little aprehensive about the whole Mexico thing, but apparently Dr. Kuri does several of these every day.

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gabi311b    0

gabi311b
Posted

I am self pay as well. My surgeon is Dr. Hamamji and i am getting the surgery done at Cosmeticare in Newport Beach, CA. Cost is $12,000.

Good luck on your search!

Do you happen to have his contact information? I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

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Go To Topic Listing PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

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    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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