Lap Band Fills....
Are the fills needed after lap band surgery included in the insurance or are these out of pocket expenses? I am awaiting approval for either RNY or Lap Band and I have not decided yet which I will go with. I would have to drive 2 hours to a Dr. to have these fills done. Are these every month, or how often?
Sandy M from ND
I have heard that this varies by insurance company. Mine is covered. Actually, my surgeon bundles the first year of these appointmentsw with his charges. I had one fill at 6 weeks and then one is scheduled once a month for the first year. These are only appointments and not necessarily fills. They evaluate you every month I am told. My surgeon tells me by my weight loss, feeling of tightness/restriction and hunger level. I have felt little restriction with only one fill. I understand the 2nd one usually does. Some people go beyond that. So, right now I maintian and lose on my willpower and changes in appetite. I do exercise every day.
Tom in Ohio
Tom in Ohio
Follow my journey to a happy, healthy, active life at TomBilcze.com
it depends if the doctor has a package deal or not. In the first 90 days you are covered under global insurance so any fill in 90 days should be covered.
I had blue cross and they paid for my fills. I had Cigna and they wouldn't pay for my conversion from the band to rny...but they paid for my doctor appt part of the visit...not the fill. The doc accepted the $ and didn't bill me the diffrerence.
I however, would consider your 2 hour commute for aftercare with the band. It is much more than with the RNY. I am speaking from experience for I now have had both. And sometimes with the band you get a fill and in a day, two or even two weeks you are so tight you can't even swallow your spit. A 2 hour commute could make for difficulty. Also, you might not "get' a fill when needed due to the commute and possibility of needing a subsequent unfill. I know people who are local to the doc and consider what is the next week...kid stuff, work travel, etc and if they knwo they can't get back to the doc the next week.....just in case....they don't get a fill.
So...the 2 hour commute should also be a decision in your surgery choice.
Joan
I had blue cross and they paid for my fills. I had Cigna and they wouldn't pay for my conversion from the band to rny...but they paid for my doctor appt part of the visit...not the fill. The doc accepted the $ and didn't bill me the diffrerence.
I however, would consider your 2 hour commute for aftercare with the band. It is much more than with the RNY. I am speaking from experience for I now have had both. And sometimes with the band you get a fill and in a day, two or even two weeks you are so tight you can't even swallow your spit. A 2 hour commute could make for difficulty. Also, you might not "get' a fill when needed due to the commute and possibility of needing a subsequent unfill. I know people who are local to the doc and consider what is the next week...kid stuff, work travel, etc and if they knwo they can't get back to the doc the next week.....just in case....they don't get a fill.
So...the 2 hour commute should also be a decision in your surgery choice.
Joan
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