Question:
Financing options by any OK/AR/TX surgeons?

I just found out last week that WLS or any kind of weight loss treatment is excluded by my insurance. Therefore I am going to be a self-pay. Was wondering if there are any good surgeons in the OK/AR/TX that have financing available for lap-band. I already know that I cannot have RNY or DS because I have a rare cardiomyopathy (unrelated to my obesity) and lap-band is the only surgery that my cardio says I am a candidate for. I am38 yrs old, 350 lbs and BMI of 50.2 .... I desperately need this, please help!!!!    — misschrissie67 (posted on January 2, 2006)

January 2, 2006
You know Crystal it isnt the insurance companies with the exclusions, its whatever your employer has requested in their policies. Before you try to raise all that money, get with whomever in your company responsible for your medical insurance, and talk with them. However, before you do, get copies of your medical records, with all the reasons for the necessity of this surgery. Take everything to your HR person at work, and sit and discuss why you need them to release, just yourself, for this surgery. Often times, they will do this for their valued employees. If you are married and this is your husbands policy, then he will need to take your medical records to his HR person, with the same argument. All I can suggest, from the medical side of the problem, is present this to them without emotion, with hard and cold facts, and I can almost guarantee you, after listening, they may reverse the exclusion for just your case. Good luck, but please give this a try before you start looking for funding. Cindi
   — DollyDoodles

January 2, 2006
Dr. Wade Barker in Garland Tx. is really good his profile is on this site. Ree
   — ree

January 2, 2006
Crystal, Please research Lap Sleeve Gastrectomy as an option, as well. It is in many ways less invasive than Lap Band - no foreign body implant, no fills or adjustments needed, yet excellent results, better quality of life. It's a quick surgery - most folks are in surgery less than an hour; and recovery is so fast - I know people who have been in the hospital less than 48 hours after surgery - going home feeling fabulous! It's a great option - and if I were in your shoes, I would definitely pursue it! BTW - I recently accompanied a woman with a similar heart condition to your own when she went for her DS with my surgeon - she's done beautifully, in fact, she's now lost enough weight to pursue the heart procedure she needs done. It's been a literal life-saver for her - losing her weight! Best of luck to you! Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

January 2, 2006
I concure with the opinion that you should seek a second opinion, your cardiogist may be uninformed, banding is quite a surgigical proceedure, and good surgeons handle your problem well, email Dr Gagner with your question at Cornell, he is the teacher of teachers on wls. he will respond to you, visit the DS forum, DS patients most often do self pay,as it is often excluded and prefered by them over free rny's so there is lots of self pay info, regardless of your choice of surgery. I could could not have a band, or rny, and 8 surgeons are sending me to Dr G because of his expertise, and his hospital. long story, special surgical needs.
   — walter A.

January 3, 2006
Hey Crystal. You might ask this question on one of the state boards for OK, AR, and TX. I'm afraid I don't have an answer for you, but as a happy LapBand patient who started out at a BMI of 56.1, I just wanted to give you a bit of encouragement. Is going to Mexico as a self-pay an option for you? I know many Bandsters who take that route .. just be sure to research your aftercare thoroughly if you decide to do that. j
   — Jeanie

January 3, 2006
You may get more answers on the lapband board. http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/LapBand/posts.html Bev
   — Bevhas

January 12, 2006
Hi, Self Pay...Cosider Overseas options- World-class care in India, surgery cost $ 5400. You may contact for details- [email protected] Good Luck, AK
   — medtours