Question:
Will I have trouble getting health insurance coverage after WLS?

I have other health problems that will require surgery down the road. WLS will help with some of my issues but not all of them. I will need future surgeries. I've been hearing that insurers don't want to cover you if you've had WLS. I wonder if people who've had this happen later changed private insurance or through an employer. I know with insurance through employers, they don't usually ask about pre-existing conditions.    — RoxanneF (posted on May 26, 2003)

May 25, 2003
As I understand it, due to the recent law HIPPA, if you have group or individual health insurance, and you need to switch insurnace, as long as you do not have more than a 63 day break in coverage they must insure you and your prior time covered will go towards any pre-existing waiting period. So if you have had insurance for 12 months or more with an employer, and you switch jobs, you are allowed on their plan with no waiting period for pre-existing. If you are going to an individual plan (non-group), once you have exhausted cobra the company must offer you the same plan they would anyone, but can rate you accordingly. My cobra runs out in September and I expect our individual Blue Cross to charge me the highest rating, but they have to take me. Now, they may have exclusions that my current plan does not....which is another issue within itself. Clinton did one thing by passing this law....if you follow the rules you can always have health insurance, albeit expensive. I've been an agent for 10 years in Virginia....so if you want specifics investigate HIPPA and "Continuity of Coverage". Don't just take my word for it. States sometimes have their own laws which enrich the federal law, but they cannot lessen it!
   — Sharon B.

May 26, 2003
Okay I'm about to go on a rant so here goes... I moved from VA from having group coverage purchased from my hubby and I as we owned our own business, with Anthem BCBS of VA. We moved to FL and were still covered when I tried to get BCBS of FL for an individual plan. When they basically told me to get lost for the next 5 years. After 5 years they will cover me under any policy and I have to be maintaining my weight for atleast 2 years. They will not cover me only under their new Florida resident plan and they want $687.00 a month to give me basic coverage with no maternity. Just for me. So hubby has to give up owning his own business to get a job with health insurance. He just started so I'm hoping once he does get coverage they will cover us. We'll have to see. It really sucks though. I mean they gave me the surgery in the first place. Go figure. I suggest if your going to move to move and then have surgery. Good luck.
   — Heather B.