Question:
HAS ANYONE SELF PAYED AND BEEN STUCK WITH EXPENSIVE COMPLICATIONS

I HAVE KAISER AND AM SELF EMPLOYED THEY NOW SAY THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS. WHAT CAN I DO THIS IS SCARRING ME I AM SO CLOSE AND DONT WANT TO GIVE UP NOW. WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOUR SELF EMPLOYED ABOUT PRE EXISTING I WAS TOLD IT IS DIFFERENT    — taglefamily (posted on July 3, 2005)

July 3, 2005
I also have Kaiser and am self-employed. I live in Maryland and Maryland's law states insurance co.'s cannot deny WLS. You don't state what state you are in. K-P paid for my surgery. I developed an ulcer 1 mo. post-op. There was no great expense connected with it, other than extra surgeon visits and I had no trouble with K-P because of it. I've been with them since 1997 and have learned to be assertively pro-active. So far, if I am polite yet assertive I have gotten what I needed. Best of luck, Carol
   — Carol H.

July 6, 2005
I self payed for my surgery and did have complications. This happened for both my bypass and my plastics. The thing was, that even though I wasn't self employed, I had an unapproved surgery, therefore they could deny the claims with regards to that particular surgery. However, the good news is that with my bypass, I had Kaiser Permanante and they covered my emergency revision and any and all complications from the surgery. After my tt, though I had a different insurance company and they did not cover the emergecny surgery that I needed for an abscess. All in all.....it was a chance I was willing to take. If an emergency arises, the hospital will work with you to repay and usually with a very nominal monthly payment. You just have to weigh the pros and cons and hope for the best. Good luck!
   — denisel