Band slippage/replacement Insurance question

For those who have had issues with the band and needed surgery to fix/replace it. Did insurance cover it for you? Just curious.

 My insurance company (United Health Care) did cover a band revision for me.  Insurance companies will remove a band because of a complication such as slippage, and they will do a replacement to a different surgery if you have a complication and you still have a BMI above 35. 

Of course this will vary a lot depending on your insurance and your employer.  From what I have seen so far there isn't ANY insurance company that will leave you with a slipped band as it will cause an entire series of issues. 


Good luck.

Just call your insurance company and ask.  They are all different.

My insurance company did cover surgery for me to have my band re-positioned after a slip. 

My insurance covered 100% of my port repair surgery. I guess they felt that once they'd paid to put that band and port in there, they'd better protect their investment!

Jean

My ins. covered a revision to a surgery, VSG, that they do not cover as an initial surgery.  They probably cover VSG as a first surgery now because that was 3 years ago.

My insurance only covered $5K towards lap band or gastric bypass and they only offer $5K for complications if he needs to be removed or if something major happen to me during the bypass surgery.. or if I had any complications from it.

My insurance does not cover anything else... so it depends how "good" your insurance is.

I had my band fixed/repaires after a downward slip.  My doctor has a standardized letter/supporting documents he sends to the insurance companies.  I have Cigna/Great West and they approved my surgery within 1 week and surgery was scheduled a week later. It was so quick!  They also approved my surgery within 30 days the 1st time around.  I had no co-morbidities or major health issues either.  I have a $1500 deductible, but my employer pays for $1,000 of it. So, really only paid $500 for the surgery. My repair surgery costs the same as the 1st surgery - I believe it was $15,000 or more. 

Like others have said, call your insurance and ask about your benefits and how the coverages break down.  I had the same insurance for both surgeries, so I wasn't worried about calling for the 2nd surgery.

I would definitely say God spared me on both surgeries and I had no problems with the insurance companies either way.  I am also so greatful that my employer has WLS option as one of our benefits. Sometimes when I get so upset with my weight, my mishaps, my bad judgments, etc., I have to stop and remember just how blessed I am.  There are so many people that get denied WLS or have many, many speed bumps along the way. 

Good luck and if you have any questions, I'd be happy to talk with you and share.

I only paid $1500 towards my original surgery. Ended up with a slipped band and I paid $1500 towards that the next year. Otherwise insurance paid the rest. HOWEVER, most insurances aren't paying for revision to a new procedure. Most insurances are going to the clause of one bariatric procedure in a lifetime. We tried to fight mine in that from a medical standpoint it isn't working and they stll turned it down.

My band slipped and my ins replaced it with a new one. I should have revised to the sleeve. I was in the midst of research when I had to go and have it removed due to being obstructed for a couple of days.