Question:
NO MEDICAL INSURANCE, HOW MUCH MONEY WILL FOBI POUCH COST?
HELLO EVERYONE, MY NAME IS WALTER AND IM AM CONSIDERING THIS PROCEEDER. THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT I DON'T HAVE MEDICAL INSURANCE. MY BROTHER HAS OFFERED TO HELP ME BY GETTING A LOAN FROM HIS BANK. "DOES ANYONE KNOW, RUFFLY, HOW MUCH IT WILL COST? — walter R. (posted on April 28, 2004)
April 28, 2004
I think it runs approximately $20,000 on average
— Teresa Green
April 28, 2004
Hi Walter,
There are quite a few of us who are self-pay patients. And amongst those
of us who are, there's quite a few of us who have gone out of country to
have our surgery.
For me the fact that I needed a highly experienced surgeon (I was a
horrible surgical risk), and also needed something affordable pointed me
toward Spain.
I had my surgery with Dr. Aniceto Baltasar in Alcoy, Spain 21.5 months ago.
I live in Oregon - and with travel, lodging, surgery, labs, x-rays -
everything all together, it was $15,800.00.
If you'd like to know more about Dr. Baltasar, you can check out
www.bodybybaltasar.com
If you're interested in knowing about more of the out of country options,
there's a Yahoo group for just that sort of thing - the link to join is:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OSSG-OutofCountryWLS
Please let me know if I can answer any questions or help, okay?
Blessings,
dina
PS, sounds like that brother of yours is a pretty cool guy!
— Dina McBride
April 28, 2004
I was also a self pay paetient that went out of the country for surgery. I
went to Dr Aguirre in Ensenada Mexico. I paid $6900.00 in August for my
surgery. As I understand it, his price has increased a little since
then...but is still very affordable. I am now 8 months post op and have
lost 118 pounds. I have had no problems, and would go back to Mexico
again, and am considering going back for plastic surgery in the near
future. Check out my profile for more info on Dr Aguirre. Good luck on
your journey!!!!!
— jennap
April 28, 2004
Its ALWAYS better if you can try to exhaust all your options of getting
some kind of medical insurance to cover the surgery before going it alone
as a self pay. I'm not saying you shouldn't self pay if it comes down to it
because a LOT of us have to in order to have the surgeries. Still, if a
complication were to occur it could bankrupt you, literally. I've heard
that there are some RNY surgeons who offer a capped expense package. You
pay them one fee and the hospital costs are included and it limits your
risk in case of any surgical complications that might arise during surgery.
Still, if you're a ways out and suddenly end up with complications and are
hospitalized separate from the original surgery you're looking at major
expenses. Its just financially risky to go without insurance. If you're
forced to do so though, you might want to try and find a surgeon with a cap
in place. Check the archives on here because I know a long while back some
people listed their surgeons as doing that. Also there is a doctor in
Brazil who has a 2 week window in case of having to stay in the hospital
longer than expected. Most from the US go to him for the DS, however he
also does the RNY when appropriate. I'm unsure of the the RNY fee but total
to go to Brazil for the DS is between 10,000 - 11,000 (incl. airfare,
hotel, hospital, doctor, nurses, etc). Hopefully someone who has self paid
in the US recently will chime in with some numbers for you. Just for an
idea, about 5 years ago they wanted $25K in my area to do a proximal RNY.
— Shelly S.
April 28, 2004
You might try finding a job that has health insurance, companies like home
depot cover WLS. Self pay is fine if you have no alternative but if you
have complications it could bankrupt you. Thats something to think about if
you have assets.
— bob-haller
April 28, 2004
I'm another patient of Dr. Aguirre. I just went down to Ensenada in March
and had a fabulous experience. His rate now is $8500. I stayed at a
resort for 9 days during that time, so with hotel, travel and surgical
costs I paid $10,500 out of pocket. I could have gotten by with a lot less
had I really wanted to though. Here is Dr. Aguirre's message board where
you can go to ask questions if interested:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/forums/messageboard.php?ID=A-1045621205
— Dinka Doo
April 29, 2004
Hi, I'm with the other poster I'd suggest you find a job that does have
ins. and covers WLS. I just had my surgery 3/26/04, which ins said normally
would cost about $25000. Well I had some problems come up, had to have a
second emergency surgery for a hernia repair & obstructed bowel, was in
ICU for 2 days and total time in the hospital was 8 days. The reason I'm
giving so much detail is that I got a copy of hospital charges from the
hospital and the grand total was.... $78,000. Ouch!!! all I can say is
thank God for ins. Try seeing if you can get some cause who knows what your
actual bill may be. Good luck. :o)
— vllgmz4
April 29, 2004
Walter, many of us had Dr. Ruberto Rumbaut in Monterrey Mexico with THE
BEST TREATMENT, FACILITIES, ACCOMODATIONS, AND RESULTS a patient could hope
for. I know others who went the Dr. Aguirre route, also with great results
are posting to you, but he only does the proximal RNY in an open procedure.
Dr. Rumbaut does the Fobi Lap for a total cost of $13,000 - a steal by
stateside comparison, where it can run as high as $50,000 from what I've
read.
— pam C.
April 29, 2004
I too am self pay. I am having OPEN RNY on May 17th. My total costs are
going to be right at $22,000. God bless your brother for helping you!
— Valerie03
April 29, 2004
If you are self-pay you really need more research than the ones who had
insurance. I know that most surgeons fees are separate from hospitals so
that may help you in negotiating. I do have insurance, and for LAP RNY it
was 43,000 for 2 days in the hospital, not to mention the other 7,000 in
tests before I was able to have the surgery. Spend your money wisely. If
there is anyway possible try to obtain insurance, because if there are any
complications, event they tiniest ones it is expensive. Also, I have been
reading lately that insurance companies are reluctant to write insurance
policies on Gastric Bypass patients after the surgery, even if they have
reached a healthy weight. I know its RIDICULOUS and UNFAIR, but true. The
frightening part is that my father of 59 just recently got insurance from a
new co. that he is working for and he has had 3 cardiac bypass surgeries. I
guess the insurance cos' think it is OK as long as you don't get tooooo
FAT!!! Good Luck!!
— Tara J.
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