Question:
Has anyone over 3 years out had any complications?

I am trying to get health insurance through BCBS but they want me to sign a wavier saying they won't cover any medical complications from the Gastric Bypass. I had my gallbladder removed when I had the Roux-N-Y. I have also had a colonscopy to confirm there are no bowel obstructions. How can they tell what complications are a result from the surgery?"    — jfwilson1958 (posted on October 18, 2006)

October 18, 2006
THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF IS, WHEN IT COMES TIME TO HAVE ANOTHER OPERATION OF ANY KIND, BCBS WILL GET THE MEDICAL OPPINION FROM YOUR CARING PHYSICIAN TO STATE WHEATHER OR NOT THE BELIEVE THE CONDITION IS RELATED TO THE WLS.
   — creatyvyti

October 18, 2006
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG , which is where I'd be inclined to send you for long term questions. However, what do you mean by complications? REgular lab work (my ins does not cover, either, but I get labs done)? Nutrition related issues? Bowel obstruction? Those can happen any time. I had one after my first baby (born in 1970, and not C-sect). I am also not home free with my ins, since I suspect if anything happens between neck 'n thighs, they'll blame THIS surgery and not the other 3 abdominal surgeries I had before this.
   — vitalady

October 19, 2006
I don't think they can reliably determine what is caused by the surgery and what is caused by other reasons. Rapid weight loss can cause gall stones... does that mean if you develop a gall stone three years later that the insurance co. is going to blame it on your wls and not pay? If you develop a metabolic disorder, is that because you had wls 3 years later, or is that something that would have happened whether or not you ever had the wls? I don't feel comfortable having the insurance company decide what is and isn't related to wls, especially when their goal is to save money. The biggest reason I would not sign a waiver is because if I was having some kind of health care crisis, I would not want to have the additional burden of worrying about whether or not they will pay.
   — mrsidknee

October 19, 2006
Have you been continuosly covered by insurance? if so they can not have a preexisting condition clause. it's a gainst the law. check out the KK Bill.
   — catleth