Re: Kaiser vs Self Pay(Dr Korman)

[Guest guest]

,

I had just started the process with Kaiser at the end of last year (my

Orientation was to be mid-February). I too, found the wait time pretty

daunting to start with, then SSF lost 2 surgeons...well to make a long

story short, my husband and I decided to self-pay and go outside of

Kaiser. I was in constant, debillitating back pain and was being told

weight loss was the only thing that would help it...we didn't relish

going into debt that deeply, but neither did I want to be in constant

pain for many more months if it could be avoided. So early March (03-07-

06) I had my RNY done. We were on our own for all the medical for the

actual surgery/hospital stay but now that we are back, my PCP has been

handling my labs etc...and it is my understanding that any medical here

on I can have Kaiser to handle.

A couple of things you may want to consider...First is Why you don't

want to wait...if it's just that your anxious, understand I think all

of us felt that way from the beginning. I do know Kaiser patients are

very well educated and well prepared for after surgery life, which many

others are not. It's a huge lifestyle change and a lot of education

about what is and is not ok etc...

Ultimately, only you can decide what is right for you. Today my family

is 30K in debt for my surgery but I have had zero back pain since the

day of my surgery...6 months or a year without pain..yes I think it was

worth it.

If you do opt to go outside of Kaiser..do your homework, not all

surgeons are the same and you will always find someone willing to take

your money. We chose my surgeon based on the fact he had far better

statistics than the national averages...some surgeons keep theor stat's

up there by refusing to take more difficult/complex cases...not the

doctor we choose. He truely wants to help people get their lives back

and really beleives strongly in what he does. All those things were

important to me, then combined with the fact his prices were very

reasonable (not that much higher than having it done in Mexico). For my

doctor and the hospital, we spent right at $20,000 (the other 10 were

things like the airfare to fly 2,000 miles for a family of 3 and 3

weeks my family spent living in a hotel, etc...)

Good luck on your journey .

Dawn

>

> I am just beginnig what sounds like a very lengthy and disturbing

> process with approval of WLS at Kaiser Harbor City.

>

> Am I better off saving my money and self paying?

>

> Does anyone know if Kaiser will pay for any complications related to

> my surgery if I get it outside?

>