Question for those with BCBS insurance and are with the state of OR

I am wondering if anyone that has insurance through the state has been able to get BCBS to pay for skin removal after weight loss surgery? If so, how long after surgery did you get the procedure done and how difficult was it to get the insurance to approve it?

Michelle, BCBS through the state of Oregon has only been paying for WLS since January 2006. So there may only be a few that have gotten to that point yet. Or maybe there are a lot? I had my surgery Aug. 1st and I'm nowhere near that point;) I have a big Hernia on my stomach and my Dr told me after I loose all my weight, they can repair it and do the tummy tuck at the same time. I was so hoping to have it repaired when I had the WLS and skipped to tummy tuck I hate the actually surgery part! Anyway, I know there has to me a medical reason for them to approve the skin removal. I would suggest you talk to your familey Dr about it.

Well I work in a very rural part of Oregon and my PCP don't know to much about how to get the insurance to approve things like these. I just had my WLS in June and now I am having what looks like and irritation in the belly button area and in the pubic area and I am guessing that it because of all the excess skin I have that hangs down. I am also having a lot of lower back pain and I was wondering if that can be caused by all the excess skin hanging.

Hello, I am not claiming to be an expert (I am scheduled for WLS on Dec 13!!) but I have been reading a lot and do have back problems. In one of the book I read, it stated that 10lbs of excess skin is the equivalent to 100lbs of pressure on your back!! I have BCBS and believe that I will have lots of excess skin after WLS. I am nervous about that (like I said, I have back problems). Good luck to you and I would love an update from you in the future. I do have the book at home so let me know if you need the name, etc. Kristine

I think that if you talk to your PCP he should be able to get you approved. I am hoping to have a tt and a breast reduction cause of the excess skin that I will probably have even though I am working to keep part of it from happening. If you are having problems, talk to your doctor. Sonya