So the Journey Begins... 1st Consult 8-25, Financing Options?

I am super excited to begin my journey. Enough for research already, it's time to take the first step in faith toward reaching my goals of losing weight, and reducing or eliminating pain levels that come with just basic living activities. I have already done an online seminar, and will be having my first consult with Dr. T. Ryan Heider at the Center for Surgical Weight Loss at Lake Norman in Mooresville, NC on Aug 25, just a few short days after my 34th birthday.

Though I am slightly nervous I know this is the right move for me. Hope Dr. Heider is ready for a job interview, as I have several questions for him. Mainly is how he performs the procedure, especially how he reinforces the staple line.

Being self pay I do worry about my financial options. This center has the best self pay package for the price. For $17,000 (lower for lower bmi patients) I get the surgery, all hospital fees, 1 month opti-fast preop diet, diagnostic fees, 1 year of post op care, and 90 day full coverage blis insurance.

I am trying not to resort to going to Mexico, but haven't taken it off the table just yet.

As far as financing goes, I am going to try with a strong co applicant at my local credit union, but may have to end up going with a sub prime loan if it requires too much collateral. If I do have to go sub prime, who is the best to go with?

Have you looked into care credit or other medical-specific financers?

That's what I am looking into now, not sure if this doc has care credit or not, but did request info on the companies they do work with.

I used Care Credit for mine. Apply online.

Do you have any medical insurance at all? I also had to have a hernia repair so my insurance covered that, which took care of all the hospital part. I just had to pay my surgeon for the bariatric part which was $5600.

I do have health insurance with my work fortunately, but the WLS is excluded regardless of medical necessity.

My insurance didn't cover the weight loss surgery either, but if you have the hiatal hernia, which most over weight people do, they should cover that part whi*****luded the hospital stay and the actual surgery. You then should be able to just pay the surgeon for the bariatric part of the surgery. I would ask them about it when you go for your consult. That was how mine worked so I only had to do the $5600 instead of like $20,000.

Another place to look at that has great rates is https://www.prosper.com/ - they seem to have much better interest rates and are faster to fund. 

Congrats on doing it sooner.