Question:
Post op private pay Insurance

3 months post-op, I want to know if a private pay insurance co. accept me? Is there a waiting period ( 1 yr ) after WLS ?? What Insurance co.? Blue cross ???    — bugkillermckee (posted on September 2, 2007)

September 2, 2007
i think it depends on the actual insurance co. ,but i was trying to get some life insurance prior to my wls and no one will write me a policy until at least 6mo after wls. as far as medical insurance i'm sure you can get a plan you will just have to pay a higher premium. hope this helps.. Holly
   — RNlvnCARSON

September 2, 2007
There are few and far in between ins companies that will insure you after wls. It depends on your weight, and there are even fewer that will have anything less than a full one year waiting period which is fricking ridiculous to me. I've been searching and they are also quite expensive. You just have to shop around to find the best one for you, but by the time you get done paying the monthly charge and then all the co-pays to meet your deductables, and any meds you need, it would be cheaper to go without insurance! It's going to be at least $120 a month for monthly charges (very very minimum) and for the first year that's almost $1500 for that first year NOT being insured but paying for it. Are you willing to waste $1500 for a full year? I am now only on 1 medicine for my blood pressure, and it's a generic and super cheap and I can get 3 months for $16.30. I am hoping to get married within this year sometime, so I'm probably going to go without insurance as most hospitals have a program that they will write off money due from a non-insured patient, and is very low income. (I just lost medicaid as I get $100 over each month in child support that they allow for me to be eligible) I found out the local health district will go on my income for my blood pressure checks, pap smears, mammo's, blood work and birth control pills so that is going to cover me there. Good luck and God bless!
   — crystalsno

September 3, 2007
Learn to love the phrase "open enrollement" When you or a spouse get insurance through an employer they will be ALOT more likely to cover you and what they consider pre-existing conditions. If married you my have to waite until an enrollement period (begining of the new year?) or some companies let you right after you're married. If you get a job you will probally have to waite 90 days or whenever your probation is up. Goodluck!
   — tazthewiz23

September 4, 2007
Pre-X condition (PXC) typically have a one year waiting period for all claims associated with the procedure, you may just have to wait it out, but don't go without insurance. I know the above stated 1500 a year is a lot, but imagine if something goes wrong, and you suddenly stuck with a 30k bill. Get insurance, try to live healthy for a year, and keep shopping around. Keep all your Hippa Certs (Continuous coverage certification). It's not worth it to go without.
   — Jack_D

September 7, 2007
I don't know what state you are in but many states have regulations regarding what an insurance company can and cannot cover. Your best bet is to get insurance coverage through work, that should be no questions asked, automatic aproval. Getting a policy directly through an insurance agent may be difficult due to the WLS... I think you will find different policies for each insurance company. In my state, if you have not had a gap in coverage (and there is flexibility it might be up to 60 days), then any pre-existing health problem must be covered from the first day the insurance coverage kicks in. If you are disabled or low income, most states have programs that will either help pay a portion of your private or work based insurance and/or put you on medicaid, generally without any coverage restrictions (WLS related treated would be covered from day 1). Good luck to you. I hope some of this is helpful. OH! One other thought, call your surgeon or primary care or other specialist you have seen regarding weight related issues... the front office/insurance person will most likely be able to give you some names of insurance companies that do cover WLS and related treatment. Best Wishes!
   — mrsidknee