Thanks for the info and input. I wouldn't refinance my house for this, but the cost would be less than what I paid for my car, so it's not super scary from a debt perspective.

The investigation continues...

 Hi Mark,  hopefully you've moved your surgery up and everything has worked out well with the insurance.  If you haven't though, I'd suggest checking out http://www.healthinsurancequotes.org to get some more info on companies that will cover the sleeve.  Hope that helps mate and good luck with everything!! 

Hi Amy

I will be going to San Diego to a bariatric center of excellence with Dr Ellner. Finding a bariatric center of excellence might be something you want to look into. The cash cost there is $23,545. My Dr here in Alaska recommended me to her since i am a cash pay and its cheaper to go there then to have surgery in Alaska. I can give you break down of costs if you want. I know there are places much cheaper to go to - like Minnesota. My pre op costs have been about $8,000.

Valerie

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone has coverage through Aetna from UPS. I was just submitted to them yesterday and I was curious to see if anyone has had experience with them.

THANKS

Sooooooo......I go to my  doctor last friday , finishing up the 2nd to last month of my 6 month doctor  supervised diet. (My tentative surgery date is feb 7th) I tell my doctor i'm interested in the sleeve more so now than the RNY. Geesh -she then gave me a lecture on how much more weight you lose with the bypass vs. sleeve and asks me if I have discussed this with my surgeon. I said that the surgeon talked about the surgeries already a few months back at my consultation.  Clearly she is not open to any other surgery than RNY.

Sooooooo...today i call up the surgeon's office to let them know I was leaning toward the sleeve more so now than the RNY. Unfortunately sleeve is not covered with my insurance for BMI's under 50 ( i'm 44). So as we were discussing my dilemma, the person I was talking to asked me why I didn't want RNY, and I stated my issue with the malabsorption and it only lasting about 2 years, so then she said to me.."WHERE IN THE WORLD DID YOU HEAR THAT FROM!!??"....well of course if you say the "internet" you will get laughed at so I just said I had read some articles on the subject. So they basically in so many words said it was untrue,and that bypass has changed over the years.

So what really is the truth?? from what I see the VSG's lose a pretty comparable amount of weight comparared to the RNY. Also I have only read a zillion times on here about malabsorption of fat lasting only a few years with the RNY'ers.  Is that just urban legend or what?


Oh yeah, and my boss is probably gonna change our insurance coverage in june to a crappier plan that won't cover bariatric surgery, so if I wait to see if my plan evenually covers VSG's for BMI's below 50 I may lose out on getting ANY type of WLS. (no pressure here LOL)

Thanks for letting me vent

Laura