Insurance and Revisions......

*Posted on Revision Board, just didn't know where to get an answer
Sooo, I had my original Lapband surgery June 2006.  In November 2009, I went into surgery to have my band replaced with another because it had slipped.  I woke up to having no band put in, but they removed my old band but still have a new band.  The doctor doesn't want to put another band and he is trying to convince me to do the RNY or VSG, but NOBODY can tell me what I need to do for my insurance.  Since he only did the job half way, I'm I still covered under my original revision approval??? So confused???  Do I need to do a 3/6 month diet AGAIN??  I don't see any of the listed on the insurance website.  BTW I have AETNA.

No, your original revision approval would not be good anymore.  Not only is it two different surgeries it is likely expired by now anyway.

Each insurance co is different, you need to be proactive and YOU call the ins co, you never want to totally depend on your MD office to call your ins co for you, you call them and get the requirements in writing and see what they say.

The problem is many ins co's are going to a "once in a lifetime" WLS.  They might approve you for another lap band but not a revision to a new surgery type.  Or, maybe they will, it depends on what your ins policy says, every ins co is different.

Just call them and ask, read your policy, be proactive.  Don't wait for others to do it for you, you do it.

Do you have a link to your specific Aetna policy?

Thanks, I have read the policy inside and out, at least once a week.  It doesn't say anything about doing a supervisory diet for a revision.  Thats what is making me crazy, when I spoke with my MD's office, they said I would have too.  The original revision only required that I go to a compliance class.