It has cost over $10,000 since September to find out what was wrong with me

I was just reviewing my medical insurance explanation of benefits and cost since I started to have problems that was "associated" with my lap band and the costs for xrays, two ER visits, CT scan, Upper GI, and endsocopy cost over $10,000.

I am still NOT done, because I will have to have additional surgery to repair the haital hernia and  I am still not sure what else I will have.

If you don't have GOOD insurance with the band or in fact ANY weight loss surgery it can be a catastrophe, the lap band is not the only weight loss surgery that can incur significant costs, I had a friend that had RNY that has had SEVERAL hernia repairs and other issues over the years which cost her well over $50,000......so it's not only a lap band problem.

I just thank god that my insurance pays 100 percent of any hospitalizations and co-pays only $10 dollars...*whew* ...

To each his own, but for ME, I would not self pay for ANY type of weight loss surgery, there is just too much risk invovled, if my insurance will not pay...I will not get it done.

Must be nice having that excess money to spend on yourself.  I use mine on things like a house, my family, etc.

That was my point, my insurance paid for all my testing! I guess if I'd have to pay out of pocket over $10,000 just for testing and paying for complication costs, I guess I would become a band basher too

I see, I see.

The band can get extremely expensive! One of our members here had injs. when  she got her band and then lost it. Her med expenses from band complications are thus far $90,000! :-(

 
Riiiight.  They should just die of obesity instead, it is much cheaper.

As two of the millions of UNinsured Americans, my husband and I now need to be cognizant that merely living and breathing on a daily basis can cost us severely. Even if you never had WLS, never plan to have it, ANY medical issue is expensive.

We now have to very carefully evaluate HOW sick we are before we can even think about whether to see a doctor. Prescriptions are paid out of pocket, and they are obscenely expensive.

At 53 and 55 years of age, we realize that we are on the brink of serious and seriously financially ruinous medical problems.

Anyone who is still fortunate enough to have health insurance really needs to appreciate what you've got, as Naomi's case so clearly illustrates.