Cost of surgery

[Guest guest]

I've been dwelling on this alot the past few days and finally...I have to say

something!!

I keep seeing posts of people talking about how they got stuck with bills due

to this or that. Or they have to pay this much etc. Now I'm a single parent

working full time and going to college...believe me ...I appreciate the

dollar very much. I also had to COMPLETELY pay for my surgery due to my

insurance refusing over and over.

I just wanted to remind everyone of several things. And some of this is also

junk I hear at work when people are mad because they have to part with some

money for their health care. I think like myself, sometimes I forget to

appreicate how it could be worse....and I should be thankful for what I do

have in my life.

1. Insurance may not be as good as it has been in the past, but it was never

meant to be considered payment in full 100% of the time. Insurance is to

help...and it does. My regular dr visits are over $100 everytime I go. I

pay $15. My prescriptions are over $100, I pay roughly $35. Sure, they

don't cover things I think they should, but this is the real world and I do

accept the fact that for the everyday stuff, I'm getting my money's worth.

2. Appreicate what the insurance will cover. If you have a 30,000 bill and

have to pay 5000....think about the 25,000 you don't have to pay. Think

about all of us that dont get ANY help. At least you get the majority

paid...insurance never promised to pay everything 100%, those days are long

gone due to continued abuses by consumers using ER's and other things that

ran up bills and drs that commit fraud.

3. Give some thought as you look at the amount you have to pay to how many

people have left this list because their insurance WOULD NOT pay and they

didn't have the resources to get the surgery on their own. We're all lucky,

either we had the money the insurance didn't cover to pay ourselves or we

were able to borrow. There are many that don't get the surgery because they

don't have the resources.

4. Here in Washington state, if you're on DSHS or disability, you have no

choice but the RNY. Appreciate the fact that you have the ability and

resources to choose what you want, even if its not covered 100%.

I'm not trying to put anyone down here, but I just keep seeing comments about

how much its costing and I know its expensive, but don't we all feel we are

worth it? I didn't create a 15 year loan so I could afford my surgery

because it was a waste of money!!

So my message is just to remember to appreicate what you do have...even if

its going to cost a bit more than you thought.....

~~* AJ *~~

Age 37 5'8''

Post op 7/24/01 Open BPD/DS

self pay - Dr Baltasar -Alcoy Spain

07/24/01 BMI 64 415.1

08/06/01 BMI 59 390.2 -24.9 lbs! -10.75 inches

08/16/01 BMI 58 387.0 -28.1 lbs! -11.25 inches

08/24/01 BMI 58 386.5 -28.6 lbs! -15.5 inches

08/30/01 BMI 58 378.3 -36.8 lbs! -21.25 inches

09/10/01 BMI 57 373.0 -42.1 lbs!

09/24/01 BMI 55 367.1 -48.0 lbs!

My personal website: www.WLS4AJ.homestead.com

Check out the Bellingham Support Group at WWW.WLSBellingham.homestead.com