[dees]

I have been looking into GBS for awhile now and I am a self-pay (no insurance). I called the nearest place to me here in NC. And the cost was $60.000.00 for the RNY and $24.000.00 for the Lapband I was shocked. I knew it was expensive but do self-pay people get charged more for the lack of insureance? Has anyone had any experience with this? Thanks.

[BOOTS]

And Get This If You Have Any Complications That Price Will Be Jacked Up Even More. My Bills Were Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy Over $100,000. And I Havent Even Seen All The Bills Yet. Thank God I Had My Ins Otherwise Id Be In Trouble.

Good Luck Hun And I Know They Have Loans That You Can Take On This Also

[Trulykath]

I actually paid less as a self pay.....LAP RNY for me was under $20k.

[dees]

Less then 20k jeeeez. sounds great I thought something was fishy here, I have been getting info for a year now and this just sounds outrageous to me. thanks for the info

[mlg78]

Those costs sound about right. You'll be inpatient for at least two days, having a very major surgery, that lasts a couple of hours, etc. I just grabbed one of my insurance payment summaries...for a small little 10 minute office visit with my allergy doctor my insurance company was billed $131. Think of how much that is vs. weight loss surgery? Doesn't sound quite as drastic considering the magnitude of what is happening. You have, at a minimum, two doctors in the room (surgeon and anesthesiologist) and god knows how many nurses and techs. The $60K vs. $24K does sound kind of strange... I was thinking more like $40K for the gastric bypass... Also, does this amount cover before & after care?

This place says that self-payers get a 20% discount:
No Insurance Coverage or Self-pay

An article from '02 says gastric bypass cost $24K:
USATODAY.com - Weighing the cost of obesity

$9,900 for lapband? Interesting...but worth looking into. Even with travel costs, you'd save a bundle:
Colorado Bariatric Surgery Institute - Morbid Obesity,

The Cleveland Clinic (where I'm going to have my surgery done...Dr. Schauer is well known in the world of bariatric surgery) offers financing through MBNA Bank:
Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery, Surgical Weight Loss

[BOOTS]

Yeah You Should Shop Around Even If It Means You Go To An Other State Close By Because I Have Seen It For Much Less

[traciflud]

Just looking at my insurance statements after surgery, the bill was 20,970.63, my responsibility was 3,414.80 and they covered 11,659.20, insurance companies never pay the full amount, I figure they get a deal or something. But the total was only 21K so 60K does sound high.

[MsVickie]

Here in Virginia and the physicans I know along with the Hosptials will give a self pay patient a break on the cost. More than likely you were quoted a price with insurance. You need to remember even though they charge that much the insurance never pays that price. They are lucky if they get 1/4 of it. You may need to talk to the surgeon first..... let them know your self pay...... then........speak to the hosptial. I think Kathy could help you with this if she can and let you know how she went about it all.

[fr1endly2]

i strongly suggest that you meet with a surgeon.
AND when you say you dont have insurance
the prices will come down as self pay.
BUT you must meet with a surgeon first.
BUT i think you need to consider the what
if a complication is to arise how would you handle
it. I wouldnt want see
loose ur home. good luck and there are me
members that went out of country for it to save money.
hugs

[Trulykath]

Good point Lisa....I was VERY fortunate there were no complications...my total bill was $18,836....that included the hospital 3 days, the surgeon and the anesthesia.

I also had to pay the psych $300 for the evaluation, another $400 for the doc's 1st visit (included labs/ekg). They bypassed the sonogram of my gall bladder, as I've never had problems with it, but did put me on acti-gall to keep me from developing stones....(acti-gall is costing nearly $100 a month...but I only take it for 6 months).

My surgeon's office know SEVERAL finance companies that will work with you on the financing for self pay, but I paid cash up front....and at this point, it's been worth EVERY cent!!