Question:
Will my insurance kick in if I have any complications?

I have decided to pay for my surgery on my own, because my insurance policy has a rider in it that does not allow for wls surgery. I called the doc's office today to ask who the checks are made out to, and the guy that deals with payments/insurance asked me if I was sure I wanted to do this. When I said yes, and asked why, he asked me what I would do if I had any complications and ended up needing to be in the hospital for longer, etc... If I end up with complications, will insurance kick-in?    — Mara B. (posted on October 5, 2001)

October 5, 2001
I would venture to say no they wont but I could be wrong. Check w/ your insurance for sure.
   — Dawn R.

October 5, 2001
I would say no, they would not pay for any hospitilization or post-op issues. I'm fairly new at this post-op business and I did have complications. I have an HMO and when I was readmitted back into the hospital the insurance representative told me that this is why people need insurance to pay for the initial surgery, because any health issues assosciated with the surgery are not covered because it was a surgery that was denied in the first place. (she said this to me because she is the rep that I told I may have to consider self-pay if the ins. company doesn't help save my life now). The good news: hospitals do offer fair payment plans and discounts. Wishing you luck either way!
   — [Anonymous]

October 5, 2001
I was going to pay for my DS privately before I got my insurance to pay for it. I was concerned about complications and ending up with an enormous bill. I spoke to the hospital billing office as well as my surgeons billing person and was told that everything was coded and billed separately. I called Blue Cross and they told me the same thing even though the DS was not covered complications would be. So if I ended up with a blood clot or pneumonia the treatment related to that would be coded for those conditions not for the surgery. Iwould check with your hospital and insurance company to see if they operate the same way. Good Luck! Kathy
   — kathleen S.