Can someone help me

I'm trying to help my cousin out. He is 445lbs and several medical issues. He so badly wants to do the Lapband surgery. His insurance will not cover the cost. Not sure if there a place to go for help with covering the cost of the surgery.
He is desparate, he has a family (wife, 2 boys and a girl). He gets so depressed and worried he won't be around to help raise his family. He is only 39.
Any information would be greatly appreciated!

 The only thing I can suggest is something like Care Credit, that will let him charge the surgery, or possibly a surgeon who would let him . . . 

sorry to hear .....bette is right ...care credit ..like a credit card for health ....however ...im not saying this to bash the band because i love mine .....but if his insurance wont pay then he may have to pay out of pocket for fills...and such...maybe another type of surgery would fit his situtation better

Please, please steer him away from the band!!! At his weight the band is almost guaranteed to fail him. People with that much weight to lose need at least the sleeve gastrectomy if not the full DS. Please the band is just not reliable enough for a larger person, very few succeed with the band at that weight!

The lap band is a poor option for self pay. Not only are adjustments expensive and often necessary, but many people require secondary procedures for repair, replacement, or removal. If he is thinking of financing for the first surgery, could he really afford the 2nd or 3rd??

If he is interested in a restriction only procedure, have him check out the sleeve gastrectomy. He may want to also consider the DS depending on how much he wants to lose, but that will require a good amount of supplements, so he'd need to be sure he could afford those costs.

Best of luck,
Lindsey

Honestly, even though I have had great success with my band, I would never recommend Lapband to anyone who has that much weight to lose.

Banding is just statistically not as successful as other weight-loss surgeries.

It might be cheaper, but if it does not work, it is not cheaper.

Your friend might try to research his 'out of country' options for the VSG or DS or RNY.
It can be much less expensive -- and since those surgeries do not require the constant follow up that a band requires, it is often a good choice.

Like everyone else who is self-pay, he can try to borrow, Care Credit, or 401K loan, home equity loan, loan from family, etc ------

 
I have the band. I would not recommend the band to my worst enemy! Please advise him to get an effective WLS!

I had the band placed 3 yrs ago and I was close to 500 pounds. I have lost over 300 of those pounds with the help of my band. It is possible to be that large and lose the target amount of weight! I did have wonderful insurance that covered the biggest bulk and also for fills.(I am very blessed!) If he does not have coverage, the band can be very costly to maintain! Like others stated, he may want to do research on what will be most cost effective and successful for himself.