Praise God you are alive. I have been so worried about you. I am so sorry and it makes me want to cry knowing you have been having a tough time. This board has not been the same with out your positive uplifting spirit. I am getting ready to have surgery on March 20, down in Oklahoma. It is so nice to hear from you. Please don't be a stranger and post when you can. As always you are in my prayers. Steph

My Insurance will pay for the Surgery. I have Humana Gold. Once I started the process, it only took a couple of months to get approved. My surgeon is Dr. Hornbostel in Sedalia Missouri. Very nice and helpful with all of my questions and concerns. He takes the time to talk to you. Ginger

You know I have wondered the same thing. I think the difference is that the plans are just wrote and governed differently. Because I know Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, but BC/BS of Kansas does not.

I have never thought of this previously. But my insurance company has a exclusion and I have a good job with the state, but the situation with the state reversing course on this issue doesn't look promising. How much is this in Mexico? How safe? What's a fill?

As far as Medicare is concerned, treatment for obesity alone is NOT a covered service. HOWEVER, if your friend has at least 1 co-morbidity like say sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, joint disease anything that is aggravated by obesity really then she qualifies for bariatric surgery through Medicare. Medicare WILL NOT pay for any supplemented weight loss program UNLESS it is necessary to lose weight BEFORE bariatric surgery can be performed safely. Medicare has concerns for the health of people who are placed on very low calorie diets for longer than 2 months because of instances of cardiopathology and sudden death, as well as possible loss of body protein. Does your friend have a reason to not want bariatric surgery such as RNY or DS? Surgery is really the best treatment for morbidly obese people for both weight loss itself and maintaining a healthy weight once weight loss is achieved. In order for your friend to be covered by Medicare for bariatric surgery she will have to have the surgery done at a bariatric surgical center of excellence. If you would like more information on this then I can help you if you want just let me know. I had RNY gastric bypass paid for by Medicare on Oct 5, 2006. I've lost 95lbs so far and still going strong.