Hello fellow Hoosier...

Hello fellow Hoosiers! I've never posted here before, however, need some help. I am self-employed and have been banded for 3 years. Have lost 60 pounds and kept it off! Unfortunately, my band is preventing me from being accepted for individual Major Medical insurance. Blue Cross/BS has already denied me due to my banding and my State Farm agent also told me they wouldn't accept me due to my band. Is anyone familiar with any insurance companies who will accept an individual post-banding? If I worked for a company, it probably wouldn't be a problem. Any and all responses appreciated! Thanks! Kathylou

Kathleen, I just saw your question. I had a SRVG surgery back in 1995 and I am going to a doctor in January for a revision or a RNY. About your question...I had a differerent type of insurance with my first surgery. I am under Humana this time and it doesn't go into effect until January 1, 07. I have already talked with them and although they have given me some info I have to see the doctor and he has to get the right tests and I have to have the co-morbidies (like diabetes, high blood pressure) and a psych evaluation and other tests in order to qualifiy. I guess if this helps each insurance provider has their own pre-operative specifications for their own plans. You need to find a insurance carrier that will provide assistance with former Lap-Band or Bariatric surgery. One of my insurance carriers had a 6 month waiting period where you had to be followed with a dietician and see how successful you can be with weight loss. My feeling is alot of people don't realize that this is something we don't take lightly and that having surgery or a procedure to save our lives doesn't come easily. The bottom line for insurance companies is that often its the dollar not the patient yet we continue to spend good money after bad for those who are not insured. I hope this rambling helps...good luck...LInda

That is so weird they wont cover you you cant get insurance because of the band.. after all theses years. I would look ingo it a little deeper have them tell you exactly why you are uninsurable.. it is not as if you were asking for more surgery just coverage for other problems that may or may not come up.. and the occasional fill... Linda

Hey Kathleen, iF you haven't yet, I would post this question on the Lapband Messageboard/forum area here on OH because there is a lot of long term banders on there that or individuals either in your situtation or very similiar that could give you great feedback on what to do. The only thing that I could think of that would cause an insurance company not to accept to provide any basic medical coverage or accept you for coverage is that because the band still being realitively still new in the medical field of WLS and just recently accepted by Medicare as an acceptable alternative for WLS and preventative obesity related illnessess and there for could (under that particular insurance company's guidelines) be considered as a pre-exsisting medical condition (your band/obesity that is). Which if thought out - is actually ridiculous with the advancement in the WLS Medical field and newer image of the band and it's long term results. Is there a way for you to actually talk to the determination board (those that review your pre existing medical history to decided whether or not they would cover you in any basic situtation) to find out if the information they have on the band for which they might be making their decision on, is out dated material/information? Because a lot of insurance companies still have outdated logistitcal stats on the band, unfortunately. Anyways - as I said before, if you haven't posted this question on the Lapband Message/Forum you might try there. Good Luck Jodi