WW question - Cost of additional surgeries?

I hope no one is offended by my question. If it's too personal just tell me it's NONE of my business.   ;)
If you have a leak or hernia after WLS, and your insurance doesn't cover the WLS, is the whole cost on you? I can't imagine what the cost is to those who've had multiple surgeries.
It's a scary business, and my heart goes out to you all.

Jerri

I have wondered the same thing. I don't have any insurance and I have wondered if anything happened, who would have to pay?

My understanding is that if you have surgery for an uncovered item and you have a complication, you are on your own.  I'm 99.99% sure on this.  That's why I was so careful when I picked my surgeon.  I wanted the smallest chance of complication I could possibly get and WeightWise is great in that respect!

So, ladies, it's a leap of faith!  I'm so glad I took it!

Hi, Jerri.
I've seen where many companies will pay for surgeries/procedures, as a result of complications after WLS. To be sure, you might call your insurance company rep. and ask the question, even if you pose it as a hypothetical question. Good luck on finding out about your own insurance company's policy. Try not to fear complications. I know it's easy to do that, but I always think of Job who said, "That which I feared has come upon me." You don't want that, for sure.
Blessings,
Mary

Jerri, it was my understanding that if I had complications due to a procedure that was uncovered by my plan it would be on me!  I paid cash for my WLS and have been so lucky and not one complication for me.  I tried not to worry about that...as my Mama said...borrowing trouble!  Not only would my insurance not cover and complications but my short term dissability would not pay since the procedure was an uncovered item as well so double whammy!!!  Good luck to you and "don't borrow trouble".  I knew if I didn't do something then I was on the short list anyway.  I've had most of my co-morbidities resolved and would do this again in a heartbeat!!  :)

i am so offended! NOTTTT. Lets see my emergency surgery for MRSA which took me in to the OR three days in a row was covered under the fee for my RNY... insurance covered what was not blanketed by the orginial rny fee. My hernia and gall bladder surgeries which was a complication was considerd a separate fee. Insurance paid for it...the wound surgery caused from getting another form of MRSA was paid by insurance and so was the tummy tuck and the last hernia operation.
You have a 90 day grace period after any major surgery where alot of procedures are covered..ie office visits and x rays or scans...blood work  was not covered if I am not mistaken.
jerri I can tell you this 9 surgeries totaled out for my insurance company over 260,000.00 bucka roos THANK GOD that I listened to my parents and never dropped my insurance.
So I would call your surgeons office and ask upfront about complications.
I can say this cause I have had two hernias..they are not operated on when found..usually the surgeon after finding them will want to wait and see how big it gets. Like mine after 4 months they were HUGE the size of a football and a basketball thats when they were repaired..and they will be repaired if you start to stranglate or have blockage..

Thanks Pattye! I don't think asking the about the possible cost of a procedure is looking for trouble, I think it is being smart and prepared!

Jerri