Stories from Self-Pay Folks

[Deleted]

Hi Shelli!

I'm a RNY self-pay with absolutely zero regrets on surgery and success so far. Now the question on labs, my PCP codes mine with nothing related to WLS (annual physical and if retakes needed specific to the problem, ie anemia) and my insurance pays according to the plan.

[zoetrope]

Buchwald RNY to DS revision.
Quoted $60K. Not a binding estimate, nor a flat rate.
All physician, surgeon, and anesthesia fees additional.


Measure twice and cut once!
Beware the "one surgery per lifetime" clause in insurance policies!

[smscott7]

I was self-pay with Dr. Rabkin. It made scheduling and paperwork easier, but it was a lot of money! My insurance would have paid for a RNY, but no thank you! I only wanted a DS. It was worth every penny and I would only use one of the best surgeons regardless of the cost. There are a few that are cheaper than Rabkin, though.

One thing to keep in mind...My insurance did pay for some of the labs and tests. Check with your insurance.

[zoetrope]

How much was it with Rabkin?

[smscott7]

Sorry, I can't remember. 5 years ago seems like an eternity!

[omeaga7]

Jan 17, 2012 12:14:05 GMT -5 jmckel1 said:

I am a self-pay lap-band to DS revision. I had surgery with Dr. Gagner in Montreal in December, but it will be done in two parts. I went in hoping for the full revision to DS, but he was only able to get as far as the sleeve.

I paid $20,000 CDN for the surgery. That was the quoted price for the complete revision to DS, so I will be getting a refund (perhaps $2500). The revision from sleeve to DS will be an additional $15,000 (including discount). Am hoping that money will drop from the sky.

Definitely don't want to have to be revised in two surgeries....hmm have to take Dr. Gagner off my list since he is doing the RNY to DS revision in two surgeries. Thanks for the info.

[Deleted]

I was self-pay with Dr. Stewart. It cost me $22,750. I had surgery within 2 weeks of calling him. No hoops to jump thru. The hospital was going to charge me an extra $9,000 to have my gallbladder taken out, so I deferred on that. The fee was all-inclusive. One always runs the risk of unforeseen complications, so it is a gamble. That is why choosing an experienced surgeon becomes a critical deciding factor. Travel if necessary. I was fortunate enough to be just 5 hours away from mine. No regrets.

[rhiannon]

I had initially contacted Dr Gagner for a lapband to DS revision. It was going to be $20,000 USD, no promises that I'd wake up with a full DS. I'll have to check my e-mails but I think he told me that if he couldn't do the full DS he would have refunded me $5000, so then I would have paid $15,000 for a VSG and lapband removal. There was also this long list of tests he wanted me to have prior to the surgery. I ended up going with Dr Ungson. Dr Ungson wanted an a EGD prior to accepting me, and whatever information and reports I had about the lapband. Lapband revision was $16,000 for Lap, tests done there, everything altogether was just under $19,000. That was surgery, flight, meds, costs, and EGD. That included gallbladder removal. I did go alone. I cannot say enough good things about Dr Ungson's program and his excellant team of Dr's and staff.

[muffinsmom]

I actually had insurance approval, but opted for self-pay anyway. My U.S. surgeon didn't have a lot of experience with VSG (and I have since learned from other patients of his that he makes the sleeve kind-of big). He had vast experience with RNY, though, and tended to put down the VSG in conversations. (He was also one of those god-complex surgeons, not that that's a bad thing but I didn't really like him.)

My main thing was, I wanted a surgeon who was VERY experienced in doing VSGs, so at the time that meant going to Mexico. I chose Aceves, and never looked back. Jo777 started a great thread on here about going to Mexicali, and her story mirrors mine.