Happy and sad at the same time! Opinions needed

Well today I found out I was approved by my insurance for the gastric bypass surgery. I also found out my surgery date cant be until July 16th. I should be so happy that I fought the insurance co and got this approved but still so sad it will be after my new plan year begins July 1st. So I am scared that I won't be able to afford it. I am 52 years old and have been overweight since I had my baby girl 22 years ago. She will be graduating college in dec and then I will have major college loans to pay back. I just want to get a census of how many people here would recommend this no matter what the cost. I live paycheck to paycheck and already in major debt. Need advice??? I want this so bad but how do I afford the extra expense of meeting $3,000 deductable and $6,000 out of pocket all over again before insurance picks up the 80%. Opinions needed please

My hospital will allow payment plans.

Credit Cards.

It is so late, there is no way you could get it in for June now...and you will have post ops and labs and all kinds of expenses for next cycle.

As far as your mounting debt is concerned... all I can say is only you know what you can handle.  You also have to be prepared for a different way of eating, protein shakes and vitamins.

Best of luck. I hope it all works off.  I paid my $4000 out of pocket ... and would do it again in a flash ---

I just had surgery on Wednesday, so I am still in the beginning stages.  But I would recommend two things

1) see if your hospital/dr take care credit

2) more importantly, explain the situation to your doctor and see if there is any way they can move up the surgery.

 

Good luck and I'll say some prayers for you!

I would do it if you can possibly afford it.

Also, keep in mind, your post of appointments, even if you have no complications, labs, etc, are going to meet that deductible pretty quickly even if you had your surgery in June.  So you'd still need to come up with that money pretty soon.

I paid (am paying) for my RNY completely out-of-pocket (18,500).   My primary insurance would not cover any type of bariatric surgery for any reason and I finally decided I was sick of the rigamarole the secondary insurance was putting me through with still the possibility of a denial.  So, I sucked it up and got a CareCredit account.  I was fortunate in that some of that was reimbursed through my Section 125 (cafeteria) plan.  But still... I'm currently carrying a balance on the CC account, working it down little by little.

I don't like the debt, but if I'd not had the surgery, I'd certainly be over 300 lbs today instead of 167.  I also have a son in college and I had to tell him that I'll help as much as possible but I've got to pay my medical bills.   In my eyes, the surgery was an investment in my health and that has to take priority.   (Now, I just have to work really hard to get off these last 20 pounds or so!)

As someone else mentioned, only you know what your debt load is already and how much more you can carry.  But, I'd consider talking to your daughter about these college loans and making it a SHARED responsibility - not another debt you have to carry alone.  I think you'll have 6 months after she graduates before payments are due, right?  That should give her some time to get a good job (hopefully) to help with the loans and it will be one "stressor" off your back. 

Call your doctor immediately and see if they can work with you.  I had my surgery in December and needed to have it before the end of the year.  Originally my doctor said mid-January and I said I would then have to wait until April if they couldn't do it in December (I own a tax business).  They got me in on the 17th.  They told me at the hospital that they were dong a ton of surgeries to get everyone in before year end - for the same reason, deductibles.

 

Good luck.

Stupid question maybe, but why are YOU paying back the student loans? Isn't that something that your daughter could at least share the expenses of? I'm sure that she would help knowing that this is so important for you to have this surgery. 

If I had to do it over again and was in your position I would do it in a New York minute and I was 51 when I had my surgery. Did you inform your clinic about your insurance issues? Maybe they could move you up if there was an opening.

I hope that you can find a way to do it!

Martha 

Thank you. I was going tho ask the same questions: who's student loans are they?

My daughter is paying most of her loans I just had to help her with a parent plus loan. I know she will help me when she gets a good job. I called the clinic and they have no openings until July 16 th and they diffently know my insurance issues in fact they are part of the problem. They should have been more dilligent in knowing my insurance requirements. They dropped the ball for sure. I just want to know if anyone regrets having the surgery. I was so certain I wanted this and now I guess I am having second thoughts since it is going to cost so much more. My husband thinks we just can't afford it now. I fought so hard and just couldn't make my deadline for insurance. I have lost 30 lbs since 3-1-13 and I wonder if I can do this by myself. I know that I have tried for 20 some years and not been under 200 lbs. I worry about the cost afterward also, with the vitamins and problems that could happen. I guess I need to pray about it and do the math. Thanks for your suggestions I will keep everything in mind as I consider this life changing decision.

A couple of things to consider while trying to decide. 1) Your health problems that probably will come if you stay obese. 2) Has any other diet EVER worked in the long run? They never did for me. I am now almost 5 years out and still feeling great! I was really good at dieting, but terrible at keeping it off.

I hope that you can come to a decision that you can be happy with. I am so glad that I did it, and if I knew then what I know now and had to pay the whole thing I would beg, borrow and steal to make it happen.

Martha