Calling All Self-Pay Patients!

[Guest guest]

Hi All, looks like I might have to self pay. I know I read somewhere

once about self-pay issues. Please point me in that direction if you

can, or if you would like to give me advice that's fine too. Here is

my situation, I live in Louisiana and really want to have the

procedure done in Mississippi with Dr. Booth, but, on the realistic

side I also need to consider the cost. What was the cost for your dr

& hospital. What kind of money should I expect to pay? I want to stay

in the states. Thanks, Roxanne

[Guest guest]

Roxanne..

Dr. Warden (one of DR. Booth's associates) did my surgery.. Ive only

gotten one bill, which was from the hospital and it was for

34000.00 .. I have not gotten one from Dr. Warden.. I dont know that

I ever will. Im assuming the insurance has paid it all since I have

not heard anything further.. Good luck, dear.. its a huge amount to

shoulder.

love,

Sue

Post op 9/11/01 -65#

Dr. Warden

Ocean Sps, MS

> Hi All, looks like I might have to self pay. I know I read

somewhere

> once about self-pay issues. Please point me in that direction if

you

> can, or if you would like to give me advice that's fine too. Here

is

> my situation, I live in Louisiana and really want to have the

> procedure done in Mississippi with Dr. Booth, but, on the realistic

> side I also need to consider the cost. What was the cost for your

dr

> & hospital. What kind of money should I expect to pay? I want to

stay

> in the states. Thanks, Roxanne

[Guest guest]

Roxanne - I know you want to stay in the states, I do too but the

cost is astronomical IMHO, my biggest fear is costs if there are

complications. If I end up self-pay I'd rather keep my cash for

plastic surgery :-) Anyway, I know that lots of people have gone to

Spain and will share that info if you want it. There is a new list

about a doctor in Brazil that sounds very promising. Check it out

just for the info... or maybe others reading this may be interested.

The city looks gorgeous and very modern, I put some bookmarks for

that sort of information in that group's file.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrMarchesini-DuodenalSwitch

I am almost ready to file my appeal, fighting Blue Cross/Blue Shield

of Tennessee. (Thank you as always to Hull for the great

appeal research!) Hope to win, but Brazil is my plan B at this point.

Wanda

[Guest guest]

Roxanne-

Hate to tell you this, but Ocean Springs Hospital is NOT the place to

self-pay. My hospital bill was over 40,000.00, and I had a reasonably

uncomplicated stay. Not to mention that the business manager will hit

you up front for money- she told me I had to pay my insurance

deductable up front- but then when the hospital bill was sent to my

insurance company, they did NOT indicate that I had paid ANYTHING, so

now I've had to pay my deductable twice.. plus, they also bill for any

balance left after insurance pays, saying that they don't go by the

insurance company's " reasonable & customary " - they use their own.

You'd really do better financially to look into either Dr. B or the

Brazilian doc.. and if you want to stay in the US, I think Dr. Maguire

has a decent self-pay program. I love the docs in Dr. Booth's clinic,

but IMHO, it isn't worth the expense at the hospital to have those

surgeons when there are excellent surgeons elsewhere who can do it for

less expense.

Just my .02,

Liane

[Guest guest]

Hi Roxanne -

I had surgery in Ocean Springs w/Dr. Kim (through Dr. Booth's

program.) My entire hospital bill was a little under $29,000. I

hadn't seen a surgeon's bill but my insurance company recently paid

$500 to their group (date of service listed was same as my surgery.)

Can't imagine the fee being that low. LOL wonder if they just typed

in the wrong figure on the bill?

P

> Hi All, looks like I might have to self pay. I know I read

somewhere

> once about self-pay issues. Please point me in that direction if

you

> can, or if you would like to give me advice that's fine too. Here

is

> my situation, I live in Louisiana and really want to have the

> procedure done in Mississippi with Dr. Booth, but, on the realistic

> side I also need to consider the cost. What was the cost for your

dr

> & hospital. What kind of money should I expect to pay? I want to

stay

> in the states. Thanks, Roxanne