Gastric Bypass - Self-Pay Patient Vs. Insurance

I am trying to get approval through my insurance company (BCBS) for gastric bypass. I'm wondering if there is a benefit to skipping the insurance route and paying for my own doctor instead. Will I get a better choice of doctors, or will the doctor be able to offer better care to a self-pay patient?

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7 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon

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Self pay vs. insurance for gastric bypass

All patients are treating with the utmost care and respect. Self pay patients can sometimes get the surgery sooner based on the type of insurance they have. As far as being exposed to risk of complications with self pay, there is a company called Bliss which sells insurance to patients to protect them against complications and the associated costs.

Self-Pay vs. Insurance

The only advantage of going the cash-pay route is that everything will be expedited. You won't have to wait for BCBS to authorize your surgery; you may not need a psych evaluation, and you definitely won't need to go through a 6-12 month period of professionally supervised diet and exercise. Every state's BCBS is different, however. In Michigan, where I practice, BCBS is fairly enlightened, and there is generally very little delay in getting surgery scheduled.... more

Will I get a better choice of Plastic Surgeons as a self-pay patient?

Regarding: "Gastric Bypass - Self-Pay Patient Vs. Insurance I am trying to get approval through my insurance company (BCBS) for gastric bypass. I'm wondering if there is a benefit to skipping the insurance route and paying for my own doctor instead. Will I get a better choice of doctors, or will the doctor be able to offer better care to a self-pay patient?" I agree with 99% of Dr. Kavali's well thought out comments but I PARTIALLY disagree with this one... more

Insurance vs cash pay for bariatric surgery

You'll get the same care no matter how you pay for your bariatric surgery: cash or insurance. And you may find that the same surgeon will accept either cash or your insurance plan. The only caveat is if your insurance is an HMO-plan and your desired surgeon isn't part of that HMO. In that case, cash would be you only option for seeing that surgeon. If your insurance will cover your surgery, then I would go that route. Just meet with a couple of surgeons before you... more

Carmen Kavali, MD

11 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Self Pay vs Insurance for Bariatric surgery

There is no difference in care between self pay and insurance for bariatric surgery. Self pays allows to have surgery sooner rather lhan having to go through a waiting period as mandated by your specific insuracne policy. Cash pay allows you to pick the doctor you want. The issue with cash pay is that you are financially exposed if there is a complication with the surgery.

Obtaining bariatric surgery through self-pay versus insurance

The care that a patient receives whether the insurance company is paying or whether the patient is paying is absolutely the same. The only difference is that the date of surgery would be expedited. Some insurance companies require six months of medically supervised diet which will delay the surgery date. If the patient pays for the surgery then of course the surgery date would be expedited. However, the patient must be aware that if there is a complication (god forbid), then they are... more