Self pay dilemma.....

I currently have no insurance coverage for Bariatric Surgery. After many months of discussions and educating the employer, they have chosen not to cover the surgery again when the policy renews. I've been searching for new employment and there is a chance that I may have a new position next year and the employer may cover the surgery. The dilemma is do I choose the self-pay option now and have no problem taking time off from my current employer since I have PTO? The cost of surgery is a big chunk of change and I take the risk of complications with no coverage which could mean more medical bills. Do I take the chance and wait until next year to see if I start a new career and if my employer covers the surgery? I would then have to wait for coverage to begin and wait until I have enough time accrued to take off for the surgery? You can't put a price on someone's health and well being it's just a scary thought knowing I could have huge medical bills. Anyone else been through this scenario?

Yes it is a delemma. BUT, if it were me, I'd wait to do it under the new employer IF my health permitted it. The problem would lie in (god forbid)complications. If you do the surgery self pay and then have complications it may be considered a pre-existing condidtion and your new insurance may not cover it if you do change jobs. Even if you don't change jobs your old insurance may not cover any complications due to the surgery because they did not approve it. Most insurance companies will require a 6 month medically supervised diet prior to aproving the procedure anyway. I'd use the time to get all my ducks in a row. Have documentaion of diet and exercise plans and Dr. visits. Make sure when you visit the Dr. They document the diet and progress reports. Start going to support group meetings if you haven't already. You may already have done all this since you've been trying to get approved but more documentation can't hurt. Good Luck.

I would also have to vote on waiting. At the first meeting I went to with my doc he made sure to mention if you do have complications from the surgery, that this also will most likely end up being self pay. While the complication rate is relatively low, you never know. I was one of those statistics with a massive bilateral pulmonary embolism and was in critical care for 7 days. I cannot even begin to think about having to pay that whole bill! Luckily, (2 years later however) our insurance then did decide to start paying. Another thought is that even though you might not have enough PTO, under the FMLA laws your employer is required to give you time off. I believe this officially kicks in after a year of employment though.