Self Pay Discount v Insurance Discount

Does anyone know what most insurance companies pay for a standard lab band surgery? I was told at a seminar that insurance companies pay less than a "self pay" client. I do not think this is fair and I am going to argue that I should not pay anymore for the lap band surgery than my insurance would have to pay if this surgery were not a contract exclusion. After all, I will have to pay in full upfront and they would have to wait a while for the insurance issue payment. Can anybody give me some insight here?

Anna...I agree with you 100%......Medical costs are so expensive now days and so many people have to do with out a lot of different kinds of health care due to cost and no insurance....So it seems when someone can pay for it up front on their own they should be treated as well as the insuracance companies......I hope you do great on your argument for this!!!!! God Bless....Hugs...Tammy H.

Anna, Talk to your physician's billing or office manager and ask if they give a cash discount to self-pays equal to the discount they give insurance companies. I don't know if they will or can do that but if you don't ask it's a cinch they won't volunteer it to you. Good luck, Lana

The hospital where I had my surgery does give a hefty discount to self-pay patients. Now it's in Tulsa Ok. - South Crest Medical center and it was excellent for me. I did not self-pay but I had looked into it.The doctor was Dr.Gorospe They may not be the only hospitals that discount for self pay patients. Good luck, Dannielle