SURVEY: DO YOU THINK INSURANCE SHOULD MANDATE PSYCH COUNSELING FOR WLS?

This thought occured to me as I was reading some posts today. Should insurance companies mandate...and be willing to pay for...counseling during the pre and post op tme, say for 1 year total minimum? I know I would sure love to take advantage of it, but, I have no clue whether tricare covers that sort of thing and if they do how to get approved for it. Anyways, would love to hear everyones feedback.

Dear Happy In Oz, I do believe it would be to our benefit to have more counseling than just one psych visit and one class offered by our bariatric team. There are a lot of mental issues we go through that dont get addressed! When I was in my class for the bariatric clinic, they said that over 50% of WLS people will become depressed when post op-and I thought to myself-thats the craziest thing I ever heard-HOW can we get depressed when this is the single thing most of us have wanted our whole lives-to have the opportunity to lose all this fat and live like everyone else- Man, was I way off!!! We just go through so much mental gunk-that I do believe we would benefit from some post op counseling....I had a girlfriend who her insurance made her go to 6 weeks of counseling preop and she said it was the best thing they could have made her do pre-op!!! So, she has helped me tremendously. Anyway-thats just my opinion and of course-if they made it a regulation post-op, and they already paid for the surgery-it would just be people like me-who would do what we are suppose to do post op-that it would make a difference for, you know?  Thanks for asking.  Janet

Thank you. I agree completely. I feel insurance companies invest a lot of money in these surgeries and they should take every step to ensure success.

I agree they should at least require Overeaters Anonymous meetings or something: absolutely yes!!! But ideally, yes, therapy, counseling (psychiatric or otherwise) to deal with the reasons behind why folks have become obese I believe are critical to overcoming obesity, even with the tool of WLS. Some insurance may already pay for such treatment - WLS aside.

And even though we can have this tool, without overcoming the emotional baggage and food issues, we can sabotage the tool and regain the weight!! It is a very common occurrence in post-ops.

Another very common problem in post-ops is cross-additions: if they can't have their food addiction, then they will move on to another addiction to substitute. Clearly counseling/therapy is needed to help put an end to this cycle of addictions and get to the root of the problem causing the need for this behavior.

I agree, I am like Janet I thought if I could get my weight off everything else would fall in place with no problems...no way....but it sure is good to vent on here really each other is all we have that understands us....vesta

So, why do you think when we all know this, and the doctors all know this, that insurace companies don't have this requirement to help protect their investment? Perhaps we should form a coalition of some sort and lobby our state for a measure that requires insurance companies and medicaid/medicare to cover counseling?

Money. It all boils down to money. Many insurance companies do require 6 months supervised diet to ensure that potential WLS patients can at least stick with a program; but diets, supervised or not, do not address the root of the issue. And the root of the issue is different for everyone. Not every obese person is so because they are addicted to food; not every post-op will have cross additions to other things. It's not a one-size-fits-all situation, but there is a majority rules situation among the morbidly obese and food addictions is definitely the most common issue - but why is the question.

Get to the bottom of the 'whys' and you will cure the obesity for those folks, or at least make great strides towards that goal.

I think it's mostly about the $$$. I honestly think everyone should have a six month "cooling off/learning" period between the time they start the process and when they get a surgery date. I feel that too many people, thankfully not on this board, are being approved too quickly and then are so unprepared for the life-change gastric surgery causes. We are never really "normal" again, thank God, but we need to be prepared for that. Those who think they will just have the surgery, lose the weight and then go back to the life they had before are doomed to failure and/or extreme health problems. We have to get our vitamins in daily, drink the water daily, get in the protein daily and usually take at least stool softener daily. This is a very small price to pay for good health and a new life but some people seem to find it oppressive. In that instance, surgery may not be the best choice for them. I think a well-informed surgery patient still has lots of surprises ahead but someone who decided one week and two weeks later has surgery is setting him/herself up to fail or at least be miserable. Attending support meetings BEFORE surgery is very helpful. Talking to those who have been there before you really helps. Not everyone has the same experience but it gives you an idea of what may/can happen to you.
In this respect, I'm not sure whether psych appointments would help, but examining why you are over-eating is sure enlightening. Anger, boredom, depression - all these things and more can be reasons for excessive eating. My personal favorite is boredom - you can each choose your own!!!
Well, I've preached long enough. But I guess the answer is "Yes" to psych counseling if the counselor is up-to-date on WLS issues. But don't do it instead of finding a group because that's where the real "experts" are located.
Hugs and loveys to all of you.
Lana

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Exactly. Maybe what they should really require is lifetime support group attendance!

I like the idea of the cooling off period, but, for one thing. I was Tricare and so my approval process was very short, 4 months roughly from seminar to surgery. I had been approved for the office consult though a year plus previously. When I found out thy didn't cover lap band only rny I bailed because at the time I didn't want my innards rearranged. It took me a year of research and real soul seraching before I could decide to do this. So smeone like me would have actually been hamed by the additional waiting period. I like the support group thing, but, for the fact that a lot of people really do have pscychological issues that caused their obesity...such as abuse or trauma or some sort. I really wish that I had a support group locally, but, I don't. I guess powers that be figure that Springfeld is close enough to drive to for a support meeting...they don't figure in cost of gas currently.