sleeve to ? revision advice

I would look very carefully at both of the weight loss surgery policies online.  I am very weary of going to another insurance company.  Usually you can go online and look at the WLS policy. print them and look at the fine print.


I have blue cross blue shield and had no problem with my revision but a lot of insurance companies do not cover the DS procedure unless your BMI is a certain number

So first you are looking at do they have a WLS 1 surgery per lifetime policy

#2. do they cover DS


Tamara

very good points tamara. I will try to find out about both before going any further. Just to be clear, BC/bs covered your revision to DS? If so, I may be safer staying with them, that way aetna cant get me on the 1 per lifetine thing as I had them when I was sleeved. Hmmm, always something new to think about! Thank you!

Tracy

Tracy, I did not do DS. I revised from Lap band to RNY.

The reason I am telling you to check your policies is my insurance only covers DS if your BMI is 50 or over. Some people have appealed that decision and have won but you have to have your arguments ready if that is the way you go.

Just check your options.

I could not have the sleeve because of problems with my stomach.

Tamara

I am having the same dilemmas, I just had a consult with Dr. Greenbaum on May 1st He said he would do my RNY to DS the only issue is my insurance - BC BS of PA I havent had all the tests done yet but when I talked to Tina she mentioned only one other person was approved under that insurance :(  I keep putting off the tests (cardiologist, shrink, blood tests, upper GI) I dont mean to I am just so affraid I will be denied by my insurance... that and the copays and deductiable bills that will pile up right afterwards.. and if I am not able to have a revision it just more bills. My company also offers Atena but I cant switch until the new year. Please let me know if you have any issues with BC BS if thats what you go with. I kinda feel i need more feedback of it happening for people to ease my mind im going nuts. :(

~Christine

I wish I could tell you that i had it all figured out but i don't. I originally had until midnight tonight to switch to aetna but now it's been extended until 4 30 tomorrow. I still dont know what to do. the explanations in teh policies are so vague. i think they write them that way intentionally. I think Im going to switch to aetna. the clause in the bc/bs verbage indicates they only do ds if bmi is over 50. i cant get anyone to tell me if that applies to a revision or not. there are things in the aetna polces too that are confusing. i have a consult scheduled for 6/15 with dr greenbaum but am thinking of switching to fernando bonanni in pa since he does the ds laproscopically and rfom what I hear greenbaum only does them open. keep me posted on your progress and i will do the same with you!

I actually initially had a consult with Dr. Bonanni he still has all my records. He had done two Endoscopies on me and treated ulcers. (this was last year) and I hadn’t seen him in a few months, then called up and wanted to start all the procedures and nurse there said to me that at the time (about 2months back) the Dr Bonanni wasn’t doing any revision surgeries at that time, he did before but stopped. I don't know why tho. That’s why I went to Dr Greenbaum. He you talked to Dr Bonanni's office recently?