Question:
have you heard the Gov. is proposing to eliminate gastric bypass operations from medi

The reason given to support this proposal is that patients over 65 have a high fatality experience with this operation. We need to contact our Congressmen & Senators. Jerry    — jerry C. (posted on December 15, 2005)

December 15, 2005
There should be a lot of care and concern in chosing a person for WLS regardless of the age. Morbid Obesity takes a toll on a persons body for years, as does age in itself. However, a 65 plus age person could be healthier than a 30 or 40 year old with multiple co morbids. Perhaps the government should not work so much around an age limit, which is discrimination for health care. But instead they should focus on making WLS more easily available for those who have suffered and are still put through years of waiting and hoop jumping. Those are the years that cause the most harm. Then perhaps we would not have to be in the 65 plus age group. We the MO know the pain we go through and have experienced year after year. We get to the point we will do anything if it just gives us our last few years a chance at being well again. Nip it in the bud when we are still young enough.
   — Barb S

December 15, 2005
There should be a lot of care and concern in chosing a person for WLS regardless of the age. Morbid Obesity takes a toll on a persons body for years, as does age in itself. However, a 65 plus age person could be healthier than a 30 or 40 year old with multiple co morbids. Perhaps the government should not work so much around an age limit, which is discrimination for health care. But instead they should focus on making WLS more easily available for those who have suffered and are still put through years of waiting and hoop jumping. Those are the years that cause the most harm. Then perhaps we would not have to be in the 65 plus age group. We the MO know the pain we go through and have experienced year after year. We get to the point we will do anything if it just gives us our last few years a chance at being well again. Nip it in the bud when we are still young enough.
   — Barb S

December 16, 2005
Hello Jerry -- thanks for the information. You know this administration loves BIG BUSINESS and what business is big --PHARMACEUTICAL companies. People on this site that have had WLS have probably been on a myriad of medications. Once a person has WLS --what do they stop taking -- diabetic medications, high blood pressure meds, and problem a few other medications that I can't even think of. People being cured of obesity takes money out of the big pharmacy companies. I wonder how much does an obese person spend on high blood pressure medication a year -- I believe that's why some of these insurance companies now have all these stipulations before a person can have the surgery. It's still all about the bottom line -- who's loosing money and who's making money. And in this case with WKS --doctors are making money -- pharmacies are loosing money -- and we as patients are gaining better health, taking less medications, and living longer. We are making money too by staying out of the doctor's offices, pharmacies and hospitals. The government should be willing to pay for the surgery because there are so many people on disability that are obese and due to the weight are unable to hold a 40 hour week job. There are probably hundreds of obese people who are disable that would prefer to be working -- and due to weight -- can't stand for long periods of time, bend over, sit for long periods, stoop, climb ladders, etc. Some big company has gotten to a few elected officials about that bottom line. I haven't heard about it here in the Washington, DC area that this is something that is on the table.
   — the7thdean