Question:
Has anyone here had to change their insurance carriers AFTER they had their WLS?

Has anyone had a problem with the change? ie: New insurance won't cover any WLS complications, etc? Pretty much what I'm wondering is this. If you have your WLS with one insurance, have to change insurances; and you have a problem down the road OR you need a tummy tuck....will it be covered? OR is there no chance? Any laws or anything that someone knows of regarding this?    — Kim L. (posted on April 26, 2003)

April 26, 2003
I had my RNY on November 29, 2001 and my insurance changed on December 1, 2001. The new insurance paid for the remaining hospital stay, even though they didn't approve the surgery. I have had that insurance since then and had a couple of minor complications and they paid for everything with no problems. My insurance is group coverage and our policy has no pre-existing conditions clauses in it. So, in answer to your question, yes, I changed policies after WLS and no, I've had no problems getting anything covered, including my tummy tuck and hernia repair.
   — Patty_Butler

April 26, 2003
I believe the law is (and I could be off here) that if you have no lapse between on policy and the next, then pre-existing conditions (such as complications from a prior surgery) cannot be declined.
   — [Deactivated Member]

April 26, 2003
In Dec 2001, the company that i worked for closed down its vegas building, therefore was laid off, the insurance was good till the end of Jan 02, and I had my wls 12/01..so with that said I only had insurance for a month after wls, thank good I didnt have any major problems and when I had minors ones i just went to my pcp...in april, i started working and got insurance and did all the blood work to catch up but then left that job in 12/02.. and now in school and on my husband insuarnce which i didnt get on till 3/03, so there has been many changes and much lapses between insurance and I was just approved for a tummy tuck! so it depends on the insurance, because they wont cover the blood work related to my wls but they approved my tummy tuck ....... dont even want to fuss over that cuz i would rather them pay for the tt vs the blood work i had done for my follow up ...... good luck to you
   — Deanna Wise

April 26, 2003
I had to change carriers because I moved and because it was a group insurance I just received regular aftercare. However, when I decided to pursue an individual plan with BC/BS they told me that I would be a high risk insure and would have a rider on my insurance for pre-morbids like WLS, asthma, sleep apnea. I decided not to change my plan and stuck with the group insurance. I will change jobs and probably get another group insurance plan so that I can seek approval for plastic surgery. I didn't want to set precedence with BC/BS as a rider in case I got to a new job and had to also choose BC/BS through a group plan (you know because they would otherwise cover it). So I just left it alone. Hope this helps.
   — A V.

April 28, 2003
http://cms.hhs.gov/hipaa/online/group/hipaarights/PreexistingConditionExclusions_default.asp
   — RebeccaP