Help! Where can I purchase a secondary insurance plan

I recently attended a seminar on the lap band procedure with a friend of mine and I really think that this surgery would work well for me. Unfortunately, I have BCBS of Kansas City, which has an entire section excluding anything to do with obesity. Has anyone had an luck purchasing a secondary insurance plan that would cover this? I am willing to wait the time period that the pre-existing conditions clause requires, I just can't find anyone out there who doesn't have obesity excluded. Thanks. Jessica

Unfortunately there is no insurance company in the state of Kansas that will cover any weight loss surgery. Most people who do this are people who have Medicare, work for or their spouses work for a company with insurance not based in Kansas or are self pay. Lap band is popular with people who must self pay because it is comparatively cheaper than other procedures. Might sound absurd but if you move to the Missouri side you might find a job their with benefits that will pay.

I have Definity Health through a Kansas company and Lap band is covered.

If you look to see where that insurance is based I think you'll find it is not in Kansas. Lots of people work for companies in Kansas who are covered but that's because the base for the insurance they have is not in Kansas. For example BCBS will cover this surgery for Boeing employees but that's because it is not BCBS of Kansas. Lots of companies buy insurance from the lowest bidder. Sometimes that means their insurance is not a Kansas company. For example Definity Health appears to be located in Minneapolis, MN Most companies in Kansas buy insurance in Kansas but there are exceptions. I have seen other people on this board who don't live or work in Kansas but have insurance based out of Kansas City Kansas who are not covered. If there is actually an insurance company of Kansas that an individual can go to an agent and buy that covers this surgery then please post everything you know about it because lots of people would like to know.

Mark ~ My husband works for Via Christi Hospital based in Wichita. The insurance company is a Kansas insurance company Preferred Health of Kansas and they WILL pay for it if I do the requirements. I am more then half way there. I have followed all the rules so far and I have 2 more pre-op classes to go through then I get a date to schedule my surgery. It is possible to have an insurance company in Kansas to pay for this surgery. However what I find it the company I work for has the same insurance company but my company has an exclusion in the plan about any type of weight loss. I don't really think it is the insurance companies that are the main problem. The problem comes from companies that put exclusions in their policies. Most all companies have some form of exclusion or another. Spirit Areosystems has the same insurance that I have but through a different company. Spirit has no exclusions for this surgery as well, you just have to meet requirements. There are two really good surgerons in Wichita that are working every day to fight insurance companies because they feel that the benefit of the surgery out weighs the out come of not having the surgery. We need to have companies push for no exclusions to wieght loss diets or surgery. So many people can have birth control or something for penile dysfunction, smoking, drugs, drinking but hardly anyone will help with weight loss. We can go without sex (not really), smoking, drinking, drugs and all of those things but you CAN'T live WITHOUT FOOD. To many companies don't want to face the facts that food is a problem in life that you CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT! (sorry for the vent).

I fully understand your rant, I get a little hot under the collar about it too. I question why these companies make the choices they do. No one can give me a reliable answer yet.

Just a suggestion. Has your Dr. filed for the sleeve without using the words weight loss? My sister got her's approved with the reasoning of sleep apnea, (NOT weight loss). If you have that condition, you may have the Dr. file it that way. However, my Sister does have an insurance that covers weight loss surgery also. But it might be worth a try. Good Luck Charlotte

Check with Dr. Lopez of Heartland Spine and Spec. in Leawood. He takes bc/bs so maybe they know something. I wonder if it is for health reasons they will pay?