lap band question

i have a friend who is considering lap band over the rny -- one question we both have is  what happens if you lose your insurance coverage? how do you get your fills?? are all your fills part of the original surgery?  or would you just have to pay for the visit and fill 'out of pocket"??  thanks roberta

Hi Guys, When it's over it is over! The goal here is for your friend to maintain coverage.  Either continue the coverage they have through COBRA (good for 18 months) or to purchase a different policy that picks up when the old one ends. IMO it would be foolish to have the band and then let one's coverage end.  There is always the risk of complication, plus the cost of several band adjustments would go a long way towards paying for the insurance. Encourage your friend to contact an insurance agent as part of their "considering lap band". Dr. Mike

thanks for the answer :) but that isn't realistic when a person lives paycheck to paycheck in new jersey --  with all the layoffs in the mortgage industry it's scary out there --  i know when i just lost my job in august that for me to continue COBRA would be a little over $500 a month -- just some more thought that she has to put into choosing a type of surgery  thanks again :)  roberta

Hi Roberta, I certainly didn't mean to minimize the financial hardship involved and I am not in the insurance industry so I have no ax to grind. You are right it is one more thing to consider but remember their are potential complications with either surgery that could wipe your friend out financially. I know there are risks with postponement  of the surgery also but that is yet another option. I do wish her/him luck Dr Mike

thanks again  but there is a difference between a risk of something that could happen with surgery -- and the maintenance of a surgery -- having a fill with lapband is maintenance -- it's bad enough that her mental state suffers when she does not have health insurance -- it would be worse to put something else into the fire and have her worry about maintenance of her lapband surgery also when she does not have health insurance -- she goes down that road alot of not having coverage -- every time the union changes policies she feels as though she has to start all over again -- especially when a dr or therapist isn't covered under the new policy  thank you for your info :) it's always appreciated  roberta

You can tell her to figure on spending $175 to $250 for each fill, which she would need to have about every 4 to 6 weeks in the beginning.   I have been sometimes able to space them out and then had to be unfilled and start over again last summer.  You can see this is costly and ongoing, diagnostic testing was needed to make sure the band had not slipped, more money out of her pocket.  If it were me and I was having lapband or RNY, I would count on having COBRA and paying for it however I could.  Without insurance, most of us are one hospitalization/illness away from bankruptcy.  God bless and good luck to your friend. Michele

thank you michele for putting a price on the fills -- i appreciate it -- they are already living one hospitalization away from homelessness  -- they don't have frills in their lives -- they have 3 jobs between them - and as it stands right now their health coverage only covers about half the cost of their medications - one job pays for the health benefits alone - to cover the both of them is $218 a week - and right now there is no other choice - but she is looking at WLS not only to get healthier but to cut down on the medical bills - if she can get rid of the diabetes and high blood pressure then she can cut down on those dr appt's and medications  roberta