Question:
Anyone changed insurance plans from your WLS insurance to

a different insurance altogether for your plastic surgery? I currently have Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia-Federal Plan, (formerly the High Option). I was shocked to say the least that BCBS of Georgia paid for my WLS and I only had to pay $300. I guess my surgeon(s) were paid as "in network" instead of out-of-network. I'm 10 months 2 weeks and 1 day out and I'm considering several different plastic procedures. The problem is, I want to keep the insurance that both my PCP and WLS surgeon gets paid by...I'm just wondering if there might be insurance that *usually* pays for plastic procedures like the ones I'm interested in...lower body lift, brachioplasty, abdominoplasty/panniculectomy, breast augmentation & breast lift. Maybe not pay all of the expense, but a reasonable portion. I know that it's still too soon to have any of these procedures done, but I just want to get things somewhat in motion before the time finally arrives. Any suggestions or recommendations? Thank you. Lap RNY 9/3/02 265/158/115-126 Hadiyah, a.k.a~~    — yourdivaness (posted on July 16, 2003)

July 16, 2003
Three months after my WLS, my employer changed our health insurance provider. Not one of my doctors was "in plan" and I was devastated. However, I refused to change doctors just to save some money. My health - especially after WLS - is too important to go to just anyone. Eventually, my PCP and OB-GYN joined the plan, so only my WLS surgeon was out of network. I have been more than willing to pay the $90 or so for my annual follow-ups with him. When it came time to look for a plastic surgeon, I asked my WLS surgeon for arecommendation. His opinion matter most to me, and I am using the doctor he recommended. The plastic surgeon is out of network, but my new health insurance provider has approved an abdominoplasty. They denied a mons lift and a diastisis recti repair as being not medically necessary. I didn't even bother to try to get a breast lift and brachioplasty approved, as I knew there was no "medical necessity" to those procedures. The plastic surgery will be performed at an "in network" hospital, rather than at the surgeon's, in order to save some money. If you are in a position to pick and choose your health insurance provider, than the best thing you could do is decide on which plastic surgeon you want to use and find out which insurance companies they are "in network" with, and which of those are the most reasonable in approving the procedures you're looking to have. Compare those companies to those your other doctors' are "in network" with...and hopefully, you'll a company that meets all of your requirements.
   — Cyndie K.