Desperately need lap band removed Erosion Insurance will not cover

Hi, I have had the LAP-BAND®® placed 5 years ago by Dr. Daniel Huacuz. It has been eroded for 3 years but I have not had any complications til now. Regardless my insurance will not cover the removal. My weight was 170 when I had it placed and I currently weigh 210. I'm having a hard time finding a doctor that will not charge me an arm and a leg to have it removed. I had an Endoscopy and half the band is inside my stomach and the other half is outside my stomach. I have a lot of chest pain, headaches, nausea, dizziness and gastric reflux. I can sit here and cry in hopes that it will disappear but that is not going to happen!! Is there anyone out there that has any reasonable resources to have this horrible band removed?

I don't know what you can do. Have you gone back to the Dr. who placed it ? BTW how did you know it was eroded? I am so sorry to hear you are going through this.

Sorry to hear of your lap band mishap. Many doctors will not touch a patiant that had surgery through another doctor. Did you change insurance during the 5 years of the band being place? If so you may end up having to pay out of pocket for the removal. Most insurance companies will not cover a procedure that they did not approve of in the first place. I have a friend that is trying to go through the process of insurance and lap band and they told her that she has to wait the full year before submitting for approval from insurance. She can always pay out of pocket, but they will not cover anything that happens after the band is placed. If she waits the year and has it place with insurance approval the cost of everything will be covered through insurance "fills, check up, etc" if however this is the same insurance you had when the band was placed call them and explain to them the situation, and ask them for the name of a surgeon they cover, and go from there. If it's causing that much trouble, and it has made it's way into your stomach it would be considered an emergancy situation. Call the origanal surgeon back and see what can be done through him/her..