Insurance

Hi Everyone!

I am new to this forum.  I am seriously considering the option of having the bariatric surgery.  I am 5'3" and I weight 300 lbs.  Where do I start?

I have coventry insurance.  Has anyone gotten this approved through them?

First of all, you start by attending an informational seminar with the doctor you are considering going to. He or she will let you know where to start.

I am 5'7 and weighed 333 pounds. I was required to lose 30 pounds pre-surgery. Each doctor is different. If you are close to Edmond, go to http://www.weightwise.com and look up the schedule of seminars in Edmond. I don't know the addresses for the others, but another one is OWLO.
I've never heard of your insurance before. I was self pay as mine denied me.

Good luck!

I am 5'2" and weighed just a little less than you when I started this journey.  I was one of the ones that swore I would NEVER had weight loss surgery.  I have learned that you should never say never.  At 10 weeks out, this has been the best thing I have ever done for myself.  Why didn't I do this years ago?  (the surgery is so much better now than it used to be)

Everthing in my life is easier after losing 64 pounds.  Seat belts, chairs, energy levels - everything is better!  I look forward to how I'm going to look in a week.  I was off all of my BP meds 6 days after surgery.  I didn't have that many co-morbidities before surgery just because I was lucky.  But I was well on my way to major health issues.

Surgery was the only way I was ever going to have a chance at a life at a normal weight.  It is not the easy way out and I still have to make good choices and exercise.  But I can tell you that exercise is way easier when you've lost weight!

Charlotte is correct.  You should attend a seminar and find a surgeon that you feel comfortable with.  They will tell you what you need to do.  Secondly, you should keep in touch with us on this board.  We can offer info and support.

Oh, and I was self-pay because my insurance wouldn't even consider covering my procedure.  Buttheads!  But it was worth every penny!

Good luck on your journey!  Kim

I was self pay.  My stupid insurane company says they don't cover obesity.  I assured them that they did cover the consequences but no treatment for the disease itself.  OK, I will get off my biggest soapbox.

I would pay again tomorrow for this wonderful surgery that has improved the quality of my life in such a short period of time.  I am 11 weeks post-op.

We are fortunate to have several wonderful bariatric surgery practices in Oklahoma.  Our doctors are well trained and compassionate.  You need to attend informational seminars and see who is a good fit personality wise for you.  You will need to decide what surgical procedure is a good fit for you- sleeve gastrectomy, RNY, or the Lap band.  Research all of the major surgery types. You can research the FAQs on this site.  DS is not commonly done in Oklahoma as far as I know.

Good luck!

Hi there!  Welcome to the forum~  I had my WLS over 4 years ago and may I say it was the best decision I ever made!  I was 5'6 1/2" and 297 lbs.   I had the RNY gastric bypass.  There are many different options and I suggest researching all of them thoroughly.  I don't anything about your insurance...  I have Tricare insurance, myself.  Charlotte is right that you should attend seminars and I am posting this link so you can check out the great surgeons in this state.  http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/OK/a,list/type,46/  ..   I had my surgery in Wichita Falls, TX, but I know the surgeons in Oklahoma are excellent and have a lot to offer.  Good luck and let me know if I be of any further help!

Hi, and welcome to Oklahoma OH. I can't answer your insurance question, however your first step is to do your research and decide where and who you want to do your surgery. Click on find a bariatric surgeon on this site and see what your options are. I am partial so I could send you to an awesome facility, however I believe your surgeon and the surgery you choose  should be a personal decision after much  research is done on your part. Feel free to PM me with any questions are concerns that you may have and best of luck on your new WLS journey.

Rita

Welcome to the boards!  I am 5 months post op.  Dr. Walton at WeightWise was my surgeon.  He is absolutely awesome.  I do have Coventry insurance as well.  My policy had an exclusion for weight loss surgery....so needless to say, I was a self-pay.  Where there's a will there's a way!!  I have lost 127 pounds since I started all of this.  I would do it all over again.  I feel like I have a chance at a normal life again.  I am off insulin and many other medications since.  I had my last insulin on March 12th...the day of surgery!