Financing with bad/no credit?

Does anybody have any insights on financing for RNY with bad or no credit?  No insurance and don't qualify for Medicare/aid.  :(  Any help is appreciated!  TIA!  

Traveling out of country (US) for surgery isn't an option either as spouse is a greencard holder only and is in process of naturalization so has no passport for home country or US.

With no credit, you could apply for a credit card.  You probably would not get a card with a limit high enough to cover the whole thing if you have no credit, but it would cover part of it.  In time, of course, you can establish good credit and qualify for a card with a higher limit.

Care credit is a credit card that just covers medical stuff.  Not all docs/hospitals take it but many do  now.  I used it to help pay for some recent dental work.  Depending on your credit, it might not cover the whole amount.  My recent dental work was about $2500 and I only got $800 from Care Credit.  My credit is not very good, either.  And Care Credit has a pretty high interest rate.  But it might help with some of the cost.

Sorry, can't help with financing information, but I have to ask:

He/She has no passport?   I didn't think that was legal as a Greencard holder as the Greencard is linked to your passport??  

 

His immigration lawyer advised him not to renew his passport from his native country as it helps with speeding the naturalization process and shows he really wants to be here. The greencard is a separate thing. He has a US ssn and alien number. His passport from his country has his ID number from there. He cannot come and go at this point and if he decided to could take up to a year for his country to reissue him one at this point. He cannot get a US passport until his naturalization is completed. Even with a passport from his country traveling out has to be cleared through immigration and there is no guarantee of reentry... Even with passport and greencard in hand. He went to a funeral 2 years ago overseas and had to have a letter starting his reasons for travel.

A lot of patients use the equity in their home and do a home equity loan or line of credit to get the surgery. It's not that much and with interest rates so low right now and little or no closing costs -it's an option. Some open a credit card to get things started at the surgeon's and use it for the surgery or all the pre op expenses and paying for the surgery later. I know a couple post ops who used a loan from their 401k and paid for the surgery out of pocket. (Big discount for cash payment). the penalty is steep at first but they were able to pay it back within two years. Can you cash in all or part of a life insurance policy? That's an option too. If your employer has open enrollment for insurance coming up (January?) you could pick a policy that covers WLS. I'm a bit foggy about the passport option. Do you have a passport? Could you go out of the country for surgery? Many go to Mexico, get it done cheaper than here. Just make sure there is aftercare here for a surgery done out of the country. Most post ops make sure there is a doctor/hospital willing to see them after surgery for follow up or emergency care. Good luck to you.

jen 12 years post op RNY

Thank you. We don't have a home for equity, no 401K as I'm unemployed and hubby has been self employed most of his life. His current boss doesn't offer ins. I have found some possible loan options will see what they say. Also will look into the credit card options. The surgeon I'd see offers 20% discounted with full payment or 10% discount with 50% down, and the rest financed through the hospital to pay off in a year. Thanks!

You have to have insurance as of January 1, right?  Can you choose one that covers WLS?

Can you get a job that offers insurance? I think places like Starbucks and The Container Store offer insurance to their employees.

I agree with Laura.  I would look for a job that offers insurance.  

i read someplace that the ACA is not covering WLS in some states.....cost benefit analysis showed that it would be counter productive in many states, especially the south....don't remember where I read it though. I have used care credit before and also some hospitals have their own charity care programs..non profits are required to write off a certain percentage of patient debts. Perhaps with the combination of the two something might work out. Also depending on the state, Medicaid does pay for WLS if you meet the medical criteria, nd the guidelines of who is now eligible for Medicaid change on Jan 1...income is higher, etc...