i need financial assistance with gastric-by pass surgery, where can i go?
474693
Im in FL so, but most of the Dr's here have payment plans, but still very expensive, 17,000 - 24,000.  try a teaching hospital.  mean while try to help yourself lose weight. I am morbidly obese so I can talk.  weighed 278, down to 234 since Nov.  doing weight watchers.  The Dr's at the hospital I work at have seminars and get to gethers in the community.  Call the local hospitals and see what they have available, you might work out something.  good luck!  Its hell being fat!
204593
I think one of the Country's Children's Hospitals will be able to help you.\n\nBlessed Be.
451561
DO U HAVE INSURANCE?  TALK TO YOUR LOCAL SALVATION ARMY SEE IF THERE ARE ANY HOPITALS IN YOUR AREA THAT WILL HELP U, OR THERE IS ALLWAYS CREDIT CARDS.
547240
family services should be able to help you get some assistance's. you might also contact the salvation army. they can help with food and they have some resources. they may also know where you can get help. you may be able to apply for social security, look into that.
1167341
If you are in the US talk to your doc or call Joslin Clinic in Boston, MA. They can connect you with Joslin's Angel Network. I read about it in a Diabetes Digest. It said they help uninsured people with getting supplies. Good luck!
1057161
Gastric Bypass and Lap Band Surgery(all types of bariatric surgery) is very cheap in India.There is one company that is very famous in India that arranges obesity surgery for foreigners in India.They are called the Forerunners Healthcare.I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and about their patient stories.I have also read that they arrange financing for international patients as obesity surgery is not covered by insurance or by the stinking NHS.\n\nThey also have photos pasted of their International patients.You can checkout their website.The cost savings are incredible.As a doctor i personally believe that your lobesity surgery can be easily handled in India as the quality of healthcare available here is simply best in the world.The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star .\n\nMy cousin got her gastric bypass done there and she is more than very happy with the results.She is all praise for this forerunners healthcare company.She paid just 30% of the cost what she was quoted in USA and it was like a wonderful vacation for her. she has alsready lost 35lbs in 5 months .hope this helps
1059778
Q: How much does gastric bypass cost?\n\nA: This varies according to where you are having the procedure. In doing a little price comparison on the Web, I found that it usually runs between $17,000 and $22,000 dollars.\n\nKeep in mind that the cost of an operation depends on the coverage that you have.  For example, one well publicized case of a man whose son (3yrs old) died of cancer and who had no insurance, was billed $186,000 for a lengthy stay.  The man told the hospital that he would pay them $600.00 per month.  The hospital balked at the offer and sued the man.  The judge was outraged.  After investigating the case, he lowered the man's bill to 68,000.  The man agreed, once again, to pay the $600.00 per month.  This time the hospital accepted and took the money like the thieves that they are.\n\nWhy do I say this?  The judge had determined that if the man had Medicare, Medicaid, or cheap insurance, the entire hospital bill would have been 36,500.  The judge determined that even that amount let the hospital turn a profit, even though the Medicare/Medicaid payments would have been next to nothing (in this case).\n\nThe judge determined that the hospital was overcharging people with no insurance and using that money to subsidize the insured patients bills.\n\nSometimes, its not what the operation costs, but rather what type of insurance that you have.\n\nSince you have no insurance, you need to check with local agencies, federal, state and local to see if there is any aid available.  If you don't own property, go to a hospital that is publicly funded.  These days, almost all hospitals are.  Meet with the financial office to see if you can come to an agreement on a lower price.  Believe it or not, this happens more than you think.  Its worth a shot.  But first, exhaust all help available on the web in your area.\n\nTry going to www.ask.com and type in a question, "How can I get help paying for my medical bills?"  See what comes up.  Then do some Google research on the ramifications of not paying the bill or not paying the bill in its entirety.\n\nBut look around, investigate and plan for this.  Most people end up in bad situations because of inadequate or no planning.\n\nGood luck to you.
248640
Local Hospital or Animal Shelter.  American Cancer Society or Soup Kitchens also.
817939
A county hospital is your best bet. We med students and internists and residents are always available to help. There is this thing called ATP where you pay 80 dollars and everything else is paid for (i.e. lab work, diagnostic imaging, etc).
1054287
Money never comes easy, does it?  I'm also trying to raise money - although for entirely different reasons - and it's not exactly a piece of cake, even though I have a steady paycheck.  The best advice I can give you is to immediately set aside some money each month into a special savings fund for your surgery.  You can also raise additional money by selling things online (I've made about $50.00 on EBay over the past several days, which is a start), holding a garage sale, getting an extra job, or starting some kind of small business (think crafts, making jewellery, or maybe childcare).  I also know someone who makes some GREAT homemade treats (brownies and cookies) and sells them to local businesses.  Maybe you could start a program where people pay to get a pre-made casserole or dinner dish from you that they just need to warm up in the oven?  Be creative, be disciplined, and believe in yourself!  Congratulations on your weight loss - I wish you the absolute best of luck!!
737728
This will give you some excellent links for the lap band.\nCheck out the obesityhelp site,  Your insurance has already been rated.\n\nI had gastric bypass surgery in April 2005.  I started out at 268, now I’m 180 and holding, after  1 year and 7 months.  These links will help you in many ways to make a decision if this is for you or  not.  I vote yes, because it made such a difference in my life. I was taking 8 pills a day, and after my surgery, I lost my diabetes.  The way they do the surgery, takes your diabetes away.  I no longer have to take glucophage, and I no longer  have high Cholesterol or high blood pressure.  I’m down to 2 pills a day.  I went from a  size 26-28 to a 16-18.\nMost people struggle with paying for  the surgery.  Go to this site, it is a great support system for you, because it’s only people who have had gastric bypass.  Every insurance program has been rated, and you’ll get tips on how to deal with your insurance company, as well as, surgery tips, food tips, and just support. http://www.obesityhelp.com/\nhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastric-bypass/HQ01465\nhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastric-bypass-diet/WT00007\nhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastric-bypass-surgery/AN01378\nVitamins I take…  you have to be very faithful about taking them after surgery, because you can become very sick if you don’t.  There were recommended by my surgeon and nutritionist.\nhttp://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=301120&navAction=jump&navCount=0&id=prod403359\nThere is a very good web site by a guy named Basil White.  He’s a govt. worker and a comedian.  He walks you through everything. Very interesting. He had the surgery and did well.\nhttp://www.basilwhite.com/gastric/\nSome other helpful links…\nhttp://dir.yahoo.com/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/Obesity/Gastric_Bypass_Surgery/\nhttp://www.stapleclub.com/general_info.htm\nhttp://www.locateadoc.com/articles.cfm/1454/1337\nhttp://www.dhmc.org/webpage.cfm?site_id=2&org_id=28&morg_id=0&sec_id=0&gsec_id=35507&item_id=35508\nhttp://www.mygastricbypass.com/\nhttp://www.gwdocs.com/health/eHA-eHA_Content_C-Generic_Content_Page_Template_1131123706877.html\nGood luck with your surgery and new life!
1023534
Hmmmm...  this could be a little tricky with out insurance....BUT...  there could be ways on working around that..   there are free hospitals (if living in the states) suggestion is to try one of them.....  the wait maybe insanely long but you would not need the insurance.....  just bring a very good and long book to read..  also you can try to contact any hospitals administrator and let them know you need medical attention but can not afford it..   ask if they can help..  some times they have programs to help people without insurance..  really ask about this one..   they even might be able to work out some kind of payment plan or they just might pick up the tab altogether..  in any situation for just about anything sometimes the easiest thing to do is to ask for help...   someone somewhere will always help..  if you can not find help in your area...  look elsewhere..  but keep trying..  take care..
375033
Ask at your hospital to speak to a Financial Aide Department.  Also a Social Worker should be able to help you out and give you some contacts.  Perhaps you can talk to the Church also.  Medicaid may be able to help too or Medicare Part B for medications.  My best of luck to you.
736043
If you're in California:\nCall the San Bernardino County MediCal Dept., and they'll help get you started.  Every state provides some form of  federal assistance that is based on your income; they're just called different names.....(in OH, it's called 'Medicaid').\n\nHope this helps you.\nSmartycat
1012716
i don't know where you live or what sex you are...but if you givve me your address I will send you that $10 copay so you can go to the health clinic.  honestly....it sounds like you have it really hard and if that will help I am more than willing.
306323
If you're sick right now, go to the nearest public hospital emergency room.  Under federal law, they cannot refuse to treat you merely because you cannot pay.  Yes, you may wait a long time in line, and yes, you may recieve some uncomfortable questions regarding your ability to pay, but until we can fix the damn system, that's the way it is.  Get your problem dealt with first so it does not get any worse, and then worry about the "who's gonna pay" question.\nYour question really has two parts: you also need to know how to get preventive care.  That's where social services come in.  You can ask for a referral to the appropriate people while you're in the emergency room, in fact.  No, they won't make you go see social services before they treat your ilness or your dental problem.  Social services will help you find that doctor and dentist.  It probably won't be fully satisfactory, but dammit, any care is better than none!  And you might just join with those of us - medical personell and laypeople alike - in badgering the hell out of Congress to fix our miserable health care system!!!  Write letters, make phone calls, send e-mails - we gotta get on Congress's case and keep on it!  Yo, this old mick's been in health care for over forty years, but I/we can't fix it by ourselves.
930749
you can find support groups from your local hospital that might be free, or check your local city or state funded medical facility, they would have information for you where you could find a counselor which you could pay based on your incom (called a sliding scale fee)