Health insurance

Hey everyone,

I was wondering, do you know of ANY health insurance companies that will insure you AFTER you have had your gastric bypass. This is of course assuming you do not have an employer option. I am trying to purchase my own and I can't get approved because as the past four carriers have said "History of Gastric Bypass" is the reason for decline. I don't smoke, I'm 25 and at roughly 200 pds and they are saying because of the bypass they will not insure me and I had my surgery back in 2007.....Any insight on this one?

Its really frustrating because I can't keep paying for my follow ups out of pocket but they keep declining me.

Now that gets me just as fired up as you are.. Do that not realize that you're a much better risk then you were before the surgery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would never have thought about that being a problem.. I would start writing letters.. Get you're surgeons support maybe have his write a letter.. See if any of your doctors can help. I seam CRAZY that now you ARE a much healthier person and why will not grant you coverage because you achieved better health because of surgery.

Most states have an insurance risk pool for people who have been denied coverage for medical reasons.  Here's yours:  http://www.inclusivehealth.org/pages/2/Home/.

I used Texas's when I couldn't get insurance due to my BMI. 

 Same here, but I'm STILL a member of it, at least until I'm 5 years out and can hopefully get normal ins.     (or go on "Obamacare", whichever comes first)   This is costing me $400.00 a month just for me, and that's with a $5K deductible and 80/20 plan ..   ugh!  

Health Insurance isn't the only problem, try getting life insurance, same problem (I did get a new policy for myself 4 years post but at standard rates).  Insurance companies are afraid of the unknown.  WLS started in 1981 and the success rate for the procedures between 1981 and 1995 was dismal. 

Insurance Executives are not willing to put their businesses on the line for an unknown.  Long term studies of the new procedures aren't availible because it hasn't been long enough.  Even if you did find a company to insure you they would exclude any follow-ups or problems related to your WLS.

Currently without an employer plan you will be stuck in the State Pool.

Robert Brown
Owner - All American Insurance Agency
La Crosse,  WI

I really think its time to battle this... Honestly.. We're HEALTHIER.. Here's new thing to as to my soap box... Thanks for the information....

Battle what????

Insurance companies are privately or publicly held companies.  They are in business to make a profit.  WLS is elective surgery and luckily most employer group plans (have to abide by group insurance laws) pay for this procedure and follow-ups if you can prove you need it. 

Individual Health Insurance plans are a contract between you and the company - they are selling a product (promise to pay) to you as an individual.  They can chose who they do business with.  If they chose to do business with customers that will have ongoing claims they have to raise everyone's prices to make up for it, then they will price themselves right out of the (good) business, and out of business.

If you are going to expend energy fighting something, fight for a law that requires everyone to be covered by some kind of health insurance.  That should get rid of some of the red ink that health care providers acquire because of being stuck with no pay's and bankruptcies.

I have heard it said that once you are five years out w. NO other surgeries that you should be just as good to go as ever ..     So hang in there, and do NOT go for a revision or plastics until that 5 years is past and you're in with a good ins. co.