Lapband

Did anyone here have to pay for their lapband surgery out of pocket and if so, what were the costs, roughly.....my insurance well lets see they don't say no, but you have to lose 60 lbs to show your committed ummm if i could do that on my own why the hell would I be practicly living at St.E's every week doing pre op stuff!!!!!! I've looked at RNY and at my age and being the sole provider for my 4 yr old son, I can't take the higher risks right now....I've been at a loss for days now, I was crushed to hear all this all i did was cry and cry last night and this morning...

So if anyone has any info it's much appreciated!  Thanks for listening

I had a lapband put in 4 years ago because I felt exactly like you...I had 2 small kids..needed to something about the weight but was afraid to take the chance of the rny.   Insurance paid for my band.   Fast forward 3 years and I have a leak in the band and the insurance I had did not cover bariatrics.  I had to wait 8 months for open enrollment at my work and get off my husband's insurance. I just had a conversion from the band to Rny.   I have just reviewed the bills for the RNY...40 K.    Tufts paid about 15k for the procedure.  The hospital..Brigham&Women's had told me that if I were a self pay, they would estimate the costs at $35k and then give me a 25% discount for paying.     I don't believe the band costs are that much less... I remember from 4 years ago...the band itself was billed at $7500.   Non city hospital rates are less than the major boston teaching hospitals. 

Will your insurance cover a RNY?   

There are positives and negatives to both procedures--and if I can help you sort through them I will do the best I can(only 3 weeks out on the conversion).

Joan

i'm not even remotely an expert, but you might want to research the statistics.  I do not believe that the risks of RNY are any greater than a band.  both are done laprascopically now, and i believe most studies show more success with a RNY.

Sorry i don't know specifics about costs.

its not the actual surgical procedure, that's a cake walk to me i've had 3 spinal surgeries, it's the research i keep coming across with people who are 4+ yrs out from RNY who have protein deficiancies, vitamin ones, they've developed severe hypogycima, some sezuire disorders, teeth rotting, and bodies not being able to stop losing, resulting in being tube fed...i've read many cases of people with these serious problems and i know that i could go through it without one at all, but what happens if something like those happens, who's going to take care of me, better yet my son

Hi Nicole, i too am the sole provider for my daughter (her father passed away when she was 2, so i really am the only one she has) and i too researched the band and RNY and in the beginning i did not even want to hear about the RNY i was all for the band but the more research i did, the more i realized that the band was not for me...weight loss is a lot less especially in the beginning and most RNY now is done laparoscopically, i dont the risks are any greater with the band vs. lap RNY...so anyways in the end i chose lap RNY, i am 6 months out, down 90 lbs, no complications and feel GREAT!!  so make sure you do all the research you can and in the end it is up to you....also you insurance co may cover the RNY.....if you take you vitamins, get in your protein, follow your nutrition, you wont necessarily have complications, like any surgery there are always risks, but each person is different, no one can predict who will or wont have any complications, and there are many complications also associated with the band.

GOOD LUCK IN YOUR DECISION!

Wow.  I never heard of an insurance that expected you to lose 60 pounds before surgery.   What insurance do you have? 

I have crappy masshealth right now cause im a full time student in school and my part time job doesn't offer health insurance for part timers

discuss with your doctor the complications and the % rate.   I was chicken to have the rny and that is why I had the band.  What changed my mind this time around ..going to support group and seeing healty people in chairs....there aren't dead people at support.  People do survive Rny and I was done with the "fills".  I wanted to move forward.

Joan

Sorry that is crappy insurance.   I wish you luck. 

Hi Nicole,

I've never heard of having to lose so much 60lbs is alot, I could see 20-30 pounds but 60 WOW.  I wish you luck, Maybe you could go on a 6 month supervised diet and lose the weight and get the band to continue losing and maintain the weight loss.  I know for me I could lose a good amount of weight but never keep it off.  I've had the band over 4 years and just had a TT and I feel fantastic.  Please don't give up, you can do this.  It is a huge lifestyle change and maybe with a supervised liquid diet you could do it!!!  No more crying it's time to take charge and find out what you can do to achieve what you want, you are strong.   Will they pay for the band or RNY but only if you lose 60lbs.  What did your surgeon say?  Do you have a nutritionist that can help you?  Please x-post this on the Lap Band Board, you may get help there!  I wish you so much luck, please don't give up!  Karianne