January 2014 No pre-existing conditions?

Is there anyone who has completed buying insurance for next year who knows if complications from bariatric surgery will now be covered under the no pre-existing conditions clause of the Affordable Care Act?  I had my RNY while I was covered under the state employees insurance (it was covered).  I then retired and got the state employees retiree insurance.  Turns out, no only is bariatric surgery not covered under the retirees plan, any complications of that surgery are not covered.  I have complications to the point where my surgeon requested a revision as medically necessary.  Result?  Not only denial, but this then caused the insurance to go back over my office visits.  They decided that a lot of my visits (from two years ago, even) are bariatric-related and are not covered.  I have to re-pay the coverage I got for those visits.  We're up to over $600 so far.  I know that to many of you that doesn't seem a lot, but on a retiree's income, it is huge.  Lord knows how many more they'll decide not to cover.  Insurance will be basically useless to me if it doesn't cover complications of bariatric surgery.

Only question on the Colorado site is if you use tobacco products!   Score for me - $534 less this year than last !!!!!!!!

I think that you would be wise to specifically ask that question of each insurer offering coverage and preferably get the answer in writing.  There are certain provisions which must be in all policies to meet the ACA requirements, but I'm sure there is a good amount of variation for other areas of coverage. Policies may even vary from state to state in that regard. 

Sorry your retirees plan doesn't cover this. Wishing you all the best.

Yes, I agree.  It's going to be necessary to ask.  I didn't even know when I retired that the retiree's insurance didn't cover anything to do with the surgery I'd had while I was still an employee.  Major bummer here.

Even with no preexisting conditions they can exclude some items - like bariatric surgery...

Yes, and, as it turns out, any complications thereof.  Up the creek without a paddle is becoming my middle name!

My insurance does not cover bariatric surgery. I was self paid. With any complications - my doc does not list the surgery as as cause of my issues.
Since some noif what happens to me can happen to a normal person, with no RNY. If any doc would state that RNY caused my issues - that may open a way to a law suit. No doc unless they are 100% sure will not state that. So I get treated and insurance pays for it.

Are you keeping your current retiree medical plan or are you looking at buying an individual plan under the exchanges?  Your current plan may have been grandfathered and therefore NOT be subject to any of the ACA provisions.  If it is an ERISA self-insured plan, the rules are also different.

i have been wondering how many of the exchange plans cover WLS, but have not heard from anyone who has actually signed up and CARES about WLS coverage.

Lora

Bc/BS of FL canceled my old policy.  The reason?  It covered preexistingg conditions and therefore was in direct competition with Obama Care.

I bought a new "metal plan" from BC/BS directly; it's an Obama sanctioned plan but I didn't go through an exchange.  Sadly, the BC/BS rep couldn't give me much specific info on the plan - other than what is written in the computer print out.  When I inquired about surgery that might be necessary to repair damage/complications from Bariatric Surgery, all she could tell me was that if it is medically necessary, they can't deny you coverage.  (However, like all Obama Care plans, it specifically excludes Bariatric Surgery.)