Insurance coverage after RNY (sorry long)

I need some info and not just hearsay about the true facts of a person being OR not being covered for medical insurance after they are PO RNY until they are 5 years out. I am 2 coming up on 3 years PO from Open RNY. I have come to the realization that it is time to move on in my career. I have been with my local police department for 26+ years as a civilian. I do not want to move on but because of personality frictions (I have bent over backwards to get along but I am still the "bad guy" and do not know anything about anything, long story, it is just a few people that I am having problems with. But, those few people I work in close contact with) and also plain BURNOUT. I am not eligible to collect my pension until I am 55 which is a little over 2 years from now. I do have an option to take out medical insurance with my pension provider but do not know much about any of it or if they would even cover me because of the RNY. I am basically stuck between a rock and a hard place at the moment, but keep getting whispers from the Holy Spirit to start asking questions about insurance. Sorry, I am a religious person and I do not mean to offend anyone with my last sentance, I truely believe in God being the one in control of every aspect of my life. I am also wondering if I did go to another full time job with medical benefits if I would be covered for medical insurance with them or would I have an exclusion automatically built in from the beginning relating to anything with my RNY? I basically need to be employed to help with expenses so therefore another full time job would need to be in order. I have considered going Cobra with my current employer to carry me 'til my pension kicks in. It would cost $1,000+ a month to cover my husband and I with Cobra. I do not know if I can make it another 2 years at my current job. I know that I have marketable skills but it is scary (lack of self esteem kicking in here) to think of going into the job market now after 26+ years and go through job interviews. If anyone has any info could you please pass it my way or pass on my question to someone else that may be able to give me some insight? Thanks so much, Chris

Well, I will try to make my very long story short. My insurance company did not pay for my rny but did say that they would cover my post op care. However, I did not get this in writing. (big mistake) I started getting bills about the middle of last year for things like my labs, nutrition visits, and b12 shots and I thought what is going on here? I called them and they said that because I had a "non covered medical procedure...any expenses relating to that procedure are also not covered." So I thought, Ok, screw you, I will quit my job and go on to get a new insurance that will not have a pre-existing condition clause. Well, after I had alread acepted the position, they too told me that because they do not cover rny, anything that may happen to me relating to the surgery will also not be covered. They did not give me a time frame in which I have to be free of complications though. They made it sound like it is forever. What a crock. I have saved them so much money with my improved health, etc. etc. etc. Lori

Lori, thanks for the info I will keep this in mind. I am not a person to make fast decisions like this. This problem has been going on for a while now. My husband & I are what you would call a car sellers nightmare - we shop shop shop to find out everything we can about everything before we buy. It will be the same with this decision, but I am sure we will be happy in the end of things. Chris

Chris, I left my job of 8 years about 6 months after I had RNY. I switched insurances and had no problem with labs or doctor visits being covered. I had BCBS PPO at old job and new. Start looking....once you find an employer then question their insurance carrier. I have done that several times....Sorry about your current situation but better things do come along! Debbie

Debbie, thanks for the input. I now have a very generous BCBS PPO also and really do not want to leave it if necessary, plus I am only 1/2 mile from work and I walk there daily. I would hate to loose that benefit, but it may come down to that to loose the stress in my life. Thanks, Chris

Chris, I do not know if what I have to say will hel*****t. I have been told that any complications I may have as a result of my ryn I would not be covered by our insurance company because they have a written exclusion for morbid obesity and the surgery was a direct result of morbid obesity. No job change here, just a change in insurance company. I just hope there are no complications. Deb Ski

Deb, thanks for replying. My RNY was covered thankfully. I have a very generous BCBS PPO with my employer. I have had a very smooth PO life with no complications since day one. My doctors keep a close eye on my labs and I make sure I go for all my follow up appointments. Thanks, Chris

umm according to federal statute...if you had any surgery under a covered policy and then change policies (same employer OR a new job), they legally can't preclude any problems from the previously covered surgery. If they do try that on you, please consult an atty! And even if you had the same policy, they can only preclude it from a non-covered surgery for one year (12 calendar months) from the date of the non-covered procedure. I really get irked with "some" insurance companies...they either try to be sly and scare the insured, or they have uneducated people answering questions. Ugh.

Thank you for responding, sorry it wasn't sooner today but I came down with a cold and felt like caca all day. I am really glad that I posted my question on Friday. I have learned a lot. I posted on 3 other boards besides here and have gotten a lot of good info including yours. It was a covered benefit with my current employer and insurance. Thanks again, Chris

Chris, i left my job after a layoff and never had any problems with a difference insurance provider covering any of the labs or pcp visits. then i was laid off again and strated a new job last year , yes with another insurance comapny and to this date no problems with any coverage for all my follow ups, i am almost 4 years out from surgery, and most of the problems occur around surgery to a little while out but , it is something you would have to see if the policy had excusions stated in . most i have had have not had any. i hope you will find a better job i know stress isn't healthy either. hugs!