Will insurance pay for surgery in Mexico?

I will have Anthem BC/BS after Feb 1st. It's possible they cover WLS, but with a lifetime cap of $10,000. Might work just fine if I can get them to pay for surgery in Mexico. I know that I can search for BC/BC physicians and find some listed in Mexico, but it probably isn't that easy, huh?

I had ANTHEM BC/BS... Nope no way would they cover it. I had a Million lifetime cap. It is fairly good insurance, really, but will not cover WLS.  I doubt Mexico would accept USA insurance. I don't know.  What kind of surgery are you wanting to have? RNY? Lapband? VSG? I know of a great doctor in Tijuana/Ensenada who does all of them

When I click on "insurance" on doctor's profiles here from Mexico, it lists what looks like American insurance, what is up with that? I am looking to have RNY, probably going self-pay but I hold out a small amount of hope. I'm scared of Tijuana, was thinking of Monterrey or another place with a good reputation closer to Texas.

Being afraid of Tijuana is ok. But being afraid of the most skilled doctor Mexico has to offer is another. My doctor is often called down to Monterrey and Mexico City to do very intricate surgeries. He is also an Assistant Professor at UCLA in California (Called in by the medical school for bariatrics) ALSO~ Hospital Angeles is a new hospital with state of the art equipment. It looks like a paradise for doctors. Read my profile. He's the best.

Most skilled doctor in Mexico?  Says who? Sorry, I have to smile when I see this.  We pretty well ALL believe our doc is the best, that's why we went to them.  We didn't go to them because they were the worst.

Why make a remark as though it is fact that your doc is the most skilled in Mexico?  That is an opinion, not a fact.  I doubt that UCLA would say he is the most skilled surgeon in Mexico but you are free to defend your claim if you wish.  Most people think their doc is the best, that's why they choose that doc. Work for Belite?  Right, that's why half the docs I suggest are good don't even GO through Belite.  If I was working for belite why would I not suggest the docs they promote?  I don't care for most of their docs and I have been quite vocal about that.  I've given specifics many times.  Is that your best shot at a slam? No, I don't think that anyone that does not go through docs I believe are good are stupid.  I have never made that comment.  People ask my opinion and I give it to them.  You know, like you do.  Like we all do.  I *have* made the comment that it is stupid to shop by price instead of skill.  Do you disagree with that comment?

I have never made the claim that my doc is one of the best two in Mexico.  What the heck is your problem anyway? What I *have* written is that other Mexican docs refer the trickier procedures to two physicians.  Not what you claim at all. Show me the quotes that UCLA, the CA medical board, and the hospitals in Mexico claim that your doc is the most skilled surgeon in Mexico.  I'm just asking you to defend your original claim.  I don't believe you can do that. Look, when ANY of us go for bariatric surgery we finally found someone that can fix what we have been unable to fix for a very long time.  Fat issues.  We struggle, we push, we try and we can't lose and maintain normal weight.  We go to a surgeon that can finally fix what we have struggled with for years.  We ALL tend to look at our surgeons with a perspective that they are more special than your average person.  With time we ALL finally come to realize that there are plenty of good surgeons out there that can do a fine job. That is my perspective.  Yes, I have opinions about MANY docs.  Some are quite good, some are not.  My surgeon is not the only good surgeon and I don't make the claim that he is.  I have repeatedly made the claim that there are many good surgeons in Mexico.  I do not claim my doc is the best or that he is the only good surgeon in Mexico.  Far from it.  Sure, I think he's great, that's why I chose him.  But just as I have written 100 times there is no one size fits all surgeon.  Not any one doc is the right one for everyone.  Your doc was right for you, mine was right for me. Belite... I have strong opinions about belite as well.  Something else I have been quite vocal about.  Belite offers doctors many options.  One is regarding advertising.  Such as OH.  They can get group rates or individual rates.  Most people don't even realize their doc GOES through belite (ahem...) because they don't use them for ALL their services.  I agree with you when it comes to Belite taking care of all post op needs.  But not all docs are willing to use them that way.  Some docs don't want Belite taking care of their patients and they want their OWN office doing it such as my doc.  Others have them take care of everything but the actual surgery. Seriously, pick your slam.  Is it because I you want to believe I work for Belite yet I believe some of their docs are not good and I am vocal about that?  No, I do not work for belite anymore than you do.  Think about it, don't you think I'd be fired for saying some of their docs are not good?  And suggesting non belite docs have better reputations?

I don't blame you for fearing TJ.  According to the Mexican gov't it is one of the most dangerous cities in Mexico.  It's rare to have anything happen but it does happen.  I would check out this post and PM this lady, see what she has to say: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f15/help-my-story-tj-safety-warning-32891/ Since you are in TX I know of a really good surgeon across the border in Juarez.  Not that Juarez is a lot better than TJ but Dr. Jose Rodriguez is a very safe, very skilled, and very experienced surgeon.  He works out of a hospital in Juarez or a clinic in Acuna.  Acuna is nicer and more safe but it's a clinic vs. a hospital. In Monterrey there is Zapata, also very skilled and he works out of a hospital. In Mexicali there is Dr. Aceves, he does RNY, bands, and sleeves.  He's out of a hospital and the city is absolutely fine. Rumbaut is in Monterrey as well and he's also very good and he's banded so he understand WLS from a patient point of view.

If you read the thread I wrote on researching Mexican doctors or many many other posts I have written you will see that I write repeatedly, do your own research, verify everything, believe NOTHING you read on line.  I have outlined a starting point as to how to do that.  I have provided a checklist of a starting point of what questions to ask when you are researching. I make it a point to say that was my way of doing it, not everyone will agree.  I have explained why I suggest people ask specific questions. What part of that is incorrect?  Or don't you want them to verify everything they read on line?

I have revised and updated that guide several times and I am ALWAYS looking for more suggestions.  Please, by all means... give me a detailed list of what you believe I should add.  I'd be more than happy to revise again, I suspect I'll continue revising it as long as I am around here. I want something that is a starting point for people to do their research.  Most US folks don't have a clue how to start researching good doctors out of the country.  Please, PM me with a detailed list of what you believe I should add.  I'd like to update the second part of it too, the check list of what to ask while calling MD offices.  If you have any suggestions for that I'd LOVE it. Those of us who have already had surgery kinda owe it to the newbies to help them find the best possible doctors out there.  As I wrote above, no one doc is best for everyone.  There is no one size fits all doctor.  People DO need help figuring out how to research docs in the US but especially out of the country.  Let's face it, some doctors in every country are not great and people need to know how to identify them. I never claimed to be an expert in anything.  I just know how I did my own research and if I can help others do the same, I want to... as I explained repeatedly.  If you want to give me detailed thoughts on how to revise that guide, I'd love to hear what you have to say. BTW, I most certainly did not twist your words around.  And I'm happy for you that you have verified book chapters.  So you can either help make that guide better or you can continue insulting me.  Your choice. We should probably stop taking over this thread and take it to PM.