Question:
Anyone get your insurance to reimburse you for vitamins and protein supplements?

Both my husband and I will be having RNY surgery in April. I have figured out that the cost of post-op vitamins and protein supplements for both my husband any myself will cost us about $400/month. Has anyone had any luck getting their insurance company to reimburse you for this? I know I will save on my grocery bill for the two of us (empty nesters), but this seems expensive. Any experiences you can share?    — Anika R. (posted on April 1, 2001)

April 1, 2001
My insurance only pays for physician prescribed drugs. I take 2 children's chewables (generic, buy-one-container, get-one-free $10); calcium (100 for $10) and my protein shakes ($27 for a 2 lb tub). I'll start my B-12 shots soon. That's it! I think the B-12 may be reimbursable by insurance if it's physican prescribed.
   — Kristy J.

April 1, 2001
I think you have vastly over estimated your expences Post op.Even if you spent 100$ on Protein powder a month you would never spend 300 additional dollars on vitamins for 2. I don't know what you spend on food now , but you will save a bundle. Even a can of soup is two lunches for me! You will probably have to re-train yourself proportionaly when you cook. I now realize those enormous pots of things I used to cook (you know enough to feed an army) were actually for me!
   — Rose A.

April 1, 2001
I am reimbursed for the prenatal vitamins I am prescribed but not for the iron pills. I don't know why the iron is not since it is also a prescription.
   — marlene R.

April 1, 2001
Thanks everybody for your answers! I probably did overestimate the expense. Hubby and I refigured it based on how much we would need to take and it's more like $250/month for the two of us....$75/month for the vitamins and $175/month for protein if we each have two supplements a day. I'm using the pricing from Vita4Life! since they are absorbed more quickly and designed for WLS patients. My biggest post-op concern is nutrition, so I'm trying to plan ahead. Do you all have bloodwork done every 3 months to check all your vitamin levels to assure proper nutrition? How do you know you're getting enough and it's absorbed given our surgery? THANKS AGAIN everyone!!
   — Anika R.

April 1, 2001
Nope, never yet seen ins pay except maybe for Rx iron. We take the individual components that are = to V4L. (the V4L were developed FROM the same forumla) Runs us about $20/month EACH (husband & I). At 60g a day, a decent whey protein should run you around $60-100/month. So, depending on which one you like, you could do it all for under $100. We are extremely distal, so our totals are higher, but we work with proximals who are covering all their bases for far less than that. Yes, you won't be buying as much in groceries, but the malls, honey! The shoes! The clothes! LOL!
   — vitalady