**Please HELP ME! (Insurance Question)** :sniff:

I hope this is the right forum and I am sure this question has been asked sooo much but I have not seen it. I am not self employed but I work through a temporary employer. I am WILLING to pay out of pocket for health insurance. The problem is almost every insurance company wants group health insurance and do not offer insurance to individuals. The more trustworthy companies who do, do not offer it in South Carolina. THE ONE insurance company that seemed hopeful denied me because of my weight. Okay, I am fat! I get it! But shouldn't that be more reason to assist me in wanting to get healthy again! Do any of you kind souls know of any insurance company that will give health insurance to an individual in South Carolina? Also, do any of you kind souls know around how much this surgery costs out of pocket? I am NOT a rich person by far but I just want to know. Maybe Oprah will get it for me . So far it seems that the surgeon I would like is Dr. Pritchett. Do they offer financing? I know that is a lot of question but I would greatly appreciate any help from any of you veterans who can offer assistance. Thanks so much in advance! ~Desperate

DR BYRNE AT MUSC STATED THAT WLS SURGERY COSTS BETWEEN $32,000.00 - $50,000.00 DEPENDING ON COMPLICATIONS BUT CONTRACTED INSURANCE COMPANIES ONLY PAY ABOUT 1/3 OF THAT COST. UNFORTUNATELY, CASH PATIENTS USUALLY DON'T GET THAT GOOD OF A DEAL BECAUSE OF THE VOLUME OF PATIENTS THE CONTRACTED INSURANCE COMPANIES BRING TO THE HOSPITALS/SURGEONS. SAYING THAT, YOUR PARTICULAR HOSPITAL/SURGEON MAY ACTUALLY GIVE YOU A GOOD DISCOUNT, BUT YOU WOULD HAVE TO CHECK WITH THEM PERSONALLY. GENERALLY, A CASH PATIENT MUST PAY 1/2 OF THE EXPECTED COST UP FRONT & THEN THEY WILL USUALLY ACCEPT A PAYMENT PLAN AFTER THAT. AS FOR INSURANCE IN SC ... YOUR BEST BET IS TO GET HIRED AT A COMPANY WITH GOOD INSURANCE BENEFITS, BUT EVEN THEN ... MOST INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL EXCLUDE PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS FOR 1 YEAR UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN INSURED FOR AT LEAST ONE CONTINUOUS YEAR PRIOR TO BECOMING INSURED WITH A NEW INSURANCE COMPANY. SINCE YOU ARE NOT INSURED AT THE PRESENT, THE YEAR EXCLUSION WOULD PROBABLY APPLY. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THERE IS ONE HERE ON OBESITY.COM ... BUT, CLICK ONTO "FORUMS" & SEE IF THERE IS A MESSAGE BOARD FOR INSURANCE QUESTIONS ... OR, CHECK TO SEE IF THEY HAVE Q&A OR AN INSURANCE INFORMATION SITE. CHECK OUT ... "BARIATRIC RESOURCES IN SC" ... AT ... http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/stateinfo.php?State=SC&submit=Go+Local%21 THERE IS A CATAGORY FOR "INSURANCE". HOPE THIS HELPS, MS ALECIA. DON'T GIVE UP; YOUR HEALTH IS TOO PRECIOUS! GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

You could open an LLC, meaning getting an license to open up a business and then paying the fees, and then getting group health insurance through a licensed agent, like Blue Cross and Blue Shield. It can be tricky, but depending how bad you want the surgery, it could work. I had a friend in VA who did this. She got a business license, got group health insurance, and put her and her brother on the policy. When she got the health insurance for her "business" she made sure she added the Gastric Bypass rider. You can email me at [email protected] if you have any questions.

INTERESTING END RUN ON THE INSURANCE COMPANY ... NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT. SO, HOW YA BEEN? IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE WE'VE HEARD FROM YOU. CONGRATS ON YOUR D-I-V-O-R-C-E!!!!!!!!! I TOLD BRITT TO TELL YOU TO E-MAIL US & CATCH US UP ON THE NEWS FROM YOUR END. YOU KNOW MOST OF OURS FROM MY POSTS. WE MISS YOU GIRL ... LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU! GOD'S BLESSINGS ON YOU DAWN & NICK