Just curious I was on another site and hadn't even thought of this. Does ins. pay for fills. I am close to getting band probably late sept early oct. I know ins. covers band but some one other site said they have to pay for all fills. Just curious.

You will have to call your ins. co. and ask. Some do, some don't. Fills can get very expensive. I've had 19 fills and never reached restriction. Also keep in mind that even if your ins. covers it now...........that is no indication that they will cover them in the future. Most employers/suppliers re-evaluate their ins. annually. They can totally eliminate bariactric coverage at any point, so having it now does not guarantee having it in the future. Another point to consider is that Lap-Bands are a short term product. They are NOT a lifetime product as they claimed until recently. According to HHS 50% are removed by 6 years. Are you prepared to get a new band every 6 yrs.??? Will you still have bariatric coverage in 6 years? Some ins. companies are also now instituting a "one WLS per lifetime" claus. If yours does as well............the cost of all your future Lap-Bands would be on YOU.

Good luck!

Maria, I'm sorry about your results. Unfortunately, it did not work for you as it has worked for me and it has worked for my patients.  You should have gotten a second opinion from a different provider. 19 fills and no restriction is obvious that there was something wrong with either the band or the the experience of the provider.

I have 10 yrs with my band and have patients  with a Kuzmak band and it's still intact and working over 20 years. So it's suppos to last for ever. I'm sure some will need revising, but to say that within 5 years, such a high percentage of patients have their bands removed is false.  Goodluck to you and anyone with any Bariatric procedure.  They are all tools and requires patient commitment, physician/practice commitment to make it work. 

Gaspar

Long-term Outcomes of Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding

http://archsurg.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=11070 72

Annie, your referencing  Belgium results? First of all, they obviously have horrible technique because an erosion rate of 1 of 3 33% is horrible an their follow up rate is also is terrible. The reason these European band outcomes simply suck is because patients do not get the proper follow up care. They make their bands too tight intraoperatively and don't follow their lap bands patients as they should.

Please cite US published long term results.  If the band did not work for you, don't cite a publication where treatment is delivered differently.  If we were in Belgium then it would be more relevvent since it is how they practice there.  Giving advice is one thing but citing  results from surgeons that have a 33% erosion rate  clearly reflects their inexperience with the band.

In Europe, the results are poor because the socialized medicine there does not pay for adjustments so the follow up is poor. I know this because my attending was at a European Bariatric meeting and the surgeons there said they see their lap band patients 3-4x/year.  If you have a band, you should see your doctor/clinician once per month for the 1st year and every month to a couple of months the second year.   You even stated that you were much lower in weight with your band. You have not reached your lowest weight with the sleeve yet.  So the band worked for you as well. Good luck with your weight-loss journey as well

My Curiosity is "peaked"  Why come here to this forum, Reply to an OLD post about failed bands and try to convince us all that they work? many Members have been herefor  YEARS! When the Realize/Allergan Bands FAILED those members were here to help others with the FACTS that bands DON'T work long-term even the Manufacturers have put it in black and white to cover backsides. IS bushiness slow? are we trying to revive the band?

NOW..those members are/were chastised for telling the Truth so the Lap Band part of this Forum is slow, but  you can find them on the "other" forums  here like : VSG,RNY, DS because their  FAILED BANDS!

Maria, I'm sorry about your results. Unfortunately, it did not work for you as it has worked for me and it has worked for my patients.  You should have gotten a second opinion from a different provider. 19 fills and no restriction is obvious that there was something wrong with either the band or the the experience of the provider.

I have 10 yrs with my band and have patients  with a Kuzmak band and it's still intact and working over 20 years. So it's suppos to last for ever. I'm sure some will need revising, but to say that within 5 years, such a high percentage of patients have their bands removed is false.  Goodluck to you and anyone with any Bariatric procedure.  They are all tools and requires patient commitment, physician/practice commitment to make it work. 

Gaspar

If you wanted an American Study I'm sure you could find one on the internet OOPS WAIT, NOPE they don't have one  Probably because TRUTH be known they don't LAST.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASMBS/20919

Also interesting is that you chose to  reply to statements that Maria or I have made. Personally I didn't ask for advise on how to improve band results,and didn't you mean to say that when YOU need a sleeve it would be available? I'm not interested in having one done but thanks for offering. YOU back your history with statements  Like" I have been successful and so have my patient's. IF the Kuzmar Band is SO wonderful and works as great as you mention  the Bariatric world would be racing to the OR's to place them. yet I haven't seen it, what I have seen  is ALLOT of  Doctor's or their staff, surgical assistant's blaming the patient's that trusted them to place a band for ALL of the problems that arise or just Not believing them when they experience complications to begin with. If anything I'd say patient's that have been banded know MORE than MOST surgeons why bands fails, but that's just MHO.

Best of luck with your Kuzmar bands.

Can you say TROLL!  Join one day and is an expert bring up old post just to post their agenda.

 

My insurance did not pay for my band.  They do not pay for fills.

I am quite certain that if I have to have my band removed or adjusted, that I would be self-pay for that also.

It is very, very important to understand Band maintenance -- and the associated costs.
Your insurance policy can change, you can lose your job -- and end up self-pay, so you need to clearly understand what your doctor's policy is regarding fills (and cost).

I got 3 months of fills with my band price --- then, I was self-pay at 50.00 for an office visit and another 50.00 for a fill or un-fill (very, very reasonable prices).

I had probably 10 visits during the 18 months that I was losing my weight and getting to goal --- and probably 3 or 4 since then.  So, I have spent about 1,200.00 for band maintenance in about 3 years -- and I budget to spend 400.00 per year now just in case I need adjustments.

WOW!  That is reasonable.  Ours get $250 plus the office visit.

I have blue cross blue shield I pay only my co pay $25 for visits for fill or follow up.
I have had my band over a year now. I am almost 58 so if it works for me at least 10-15 years I will be happy. If not then...I will see what else I can do to help.