Big Let Down....Found out my insurance won't cover ANYTHING relating to obesity...

I just don't know how to feel. I was so excited gathering research about bariatric procedures. I knew for sure the lapband would be a great choice for me. My doctor thought that bariatric surgery was a good idea for me. I have what I thought to be GREAT insurance, so imagine my surprise when I called to see if any procedures were covered and I was told not only was it not approved, but that NO procedures having anything to do with obesity was covered. It honestly HURT. I spoke to the hospital suggested by my doctor (which I was told by the insurance had no bearing whether he suggested or not), and they said I can pay myself all I need is $15,000. I ran out to the money tree in my backyard to find like much of the other trees in the midwest, it hadn't sprouted any money leaves :(. I am sure I'm not the first and won't be the last to face this problem, but again it hurts. It's not bad enough being obese but to have a company say we aren't going to treat you for anything having to do with your disease is horrible. I am not at a place where I can take a loan out so I'm just sitting here trying to think of something. Still unable to process the way I feel and why it feels like someone has stomped on my dream. I guess I just ask for encouragement and prayers from you all.

Hi Jamille- So sorry to hear this. Personally, I would call insurance back, because you'll be talking with another person, just to verify. My insurance doesn't have it listed as a covered procedure, but under the not covered, it says- Weight loss surgery is not covered unless it is done in network. So....just check, I can't say for sure it will help, but it may. Also, there is an insurance forum on here that you might find some assistance on. I wish you lot of luck and am sending a prayer up for you. Pam

Thank you Pam, Unfortunately, I did check again and it appears that the insurance itself covers the procedures I guess they write out a plan based on the arrangements made with particular company's and my husband's company is the one that made the NO OBESITY PROCEDURES rules. I was ready to fight the insurance because I was told they always say NO the first time around and even read here where someone fought the fight for two years before she got her approval, but with this one there is no fight to be won because it's the rules the company made with the insurance company when negotiating their prices :(. Hopefully some long lost family member will come along and leave me my chunk of our family fortune, or a stranger will leave a bag of mula on my porch :-P (a girl can dream). I just hope to get out of the runt I am in after hearing that. I am going to have to start trying to do it the old fashion way, but like my doctor said it's a never ending circle when you are obese. You try to excercise to lose weight but you have to much weight on you to constantly excercise enough to lose weight BUT you have to excercise to lose the weight and so on. Maybe if I close my eyes and wish really hard the "lose weight :fairy: " will pay me a visit.

Ohhhhhhhh.....I'm so sorry to hear that. Well, let's pray that it will change next year. Companies redo insurance every year. Perhaps there is someone at your husbands company that you can talk to and find out if this is something that they would consider in the future. Be sure to bring up the cost savings versus having to pay for obesity related illnesses through the years. They will save money...that is for sure. Who knows....maybe that isn't the way to go either. I'm certainly not an expert. Check out the insurance forum and ask someone there if that's something one can do. Well, take care and I'll pray for the "lose weight to come real soon.

Jamille, I was in your same boat. I work for a school district where the insurance is "great", but lo and behold, gastric bypass surgery is not covered. In fact it is a direct exclusion. But I didn't let that stop me. I took out a personal loan to the tune of $20,000+, and let me tell you, it was the best money ever spent! I compare it to a car loan, only this saved my life! Yes, money is a little tight with my monthly payment, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. I'm down 95 lbs, hoping for 20 more. I hope you can find a way to finance your dream. You will not be sorry!

Thank you. I am brainstorming to come up with something. I am enjoying reading the success stories here and seeing the before and after pictures, it's amazing. Again, thanks for the encouragement, if it's meant for me, then it'll be. :-)

Malia, quick question for you? I have been calling a few places regarding prices for WLS. The place that my doctor recommended, which is an afiliate hospital was the $15,000 I mentioned in the first post. The next price I saw was the one that you mentioned, which was outstanding at $17,000 because it included free fills for life. SOOOOO Imagine my surprise when I called a placed advertised here and asked them for a price and they said well we don't have one big ballpark price because there are three different facilities coming together BUT with the 2 night 3 day stay in the hospital it has been around $39,000 (not including refills) I shared with her the prices that I have seen previously and didn't even mention the ads I see on here for like $8,000 and $12,000 and she said that she would be leary...I'm thinking what does that mean???? She said that one of the differences might be the others don't include hospital stays. So can you please give me more info on your package and if it indeed included the hospital stay or was an outpatient procedure? Thank you so much in advance! Jamille