Insurance -independent policy or thru work?

Has anyone bought an individual policy that had coverage for WLS or is it only thru a job that you can get a policy with coverage? Dannielle

Dannielle... Honey I don't know of any self pay policy that would even remotely cover something like this. I used to be in the insurance industry for years and self pay individual plans are just a pain in the babaloo.... they are basically for healthy people who are between company insurance plans... if you are not of average weight or if you have ANY preexisting conditions they will either flat out decline you or rider you to death... and that is just for basic coverage.... they used to frustrate me to no end.... Most folks that are heavy enough to qualify for WLS wouldn't even qualify to purchase a private plan... sad but true..... it just sucks bigtime... your best bet is finding a company plan through an employer. Some folks have even done the reverse... found an employer that they know offers the coverage and then try to get a job with them.... Wishing you the best! Elizabeth~

Hi Dannielle, Elizabeth is right. When I was working, my job didn't offer insurance so I tried to purchase a policy. Every company that I called told me that they have a height to weight ratio that you have to fit into before they will sell you coverage and I'm pretty sure that ratio is in the normal BMI range. Lia

I do know that AFTER WLS you can not get individual converage without paying rediculous premiums......I did NOT know that till I was post-op and tried. Luckily I was able to maintain my Cal-COBRA and still have it now 2 yrs later. It's the policy that approved my abdominalplasty. I am now in a group plan as well through my job, since Dec., but the CAl-Cobra is what I knwo will cover any WLS related issues so I kept it till I knew I was in the clear.