Alex Brecher

I agree with you 100%.

A response from the insurance company to your issue.... "To be honest, I don’t know what kind of complications you're is talking about. In 5 years, all complications we’ve handled have always been in Mexico. If the patient is coming for a bariatric surgery, they stay in Mexico for about 4-5 days after the surgery. Those days are enough for them or their doctors to identify a possible complication, report it and start the coverage process. According to many doctors and hospitals we work with, and the doctors from the insurance company, the possibility of a complication in a bariatric surgery is between the first 24-72 hours after the surgery has been performed. Also, is very important to specify that our policy only covers the complications that arise from the surgery and not the complications arising from the patient or doctor’s negligence. If the patient eats something they shouldn’t and they have a complication, they will not be covered for it because they’re not following the indications of your doctors. If the patients are back in their home country and they start having complications, they can fly back to Mexico and be treated with your doctors, and the insurance company would cover all their expenses as long as the policy is still in force by the time they had the first symptom of the complication. Also, as you can see, our policy offers the highest coverage limit of a policy of its kind in the world at the lowest cost. This is because costs in Mexico are much lower than costs in the U.S. or Canada."

We added a 2nd provider moments ago that does offer coverage in the states.

When a client/patient buys a policy, they receive the specifications of the policy, the claim process, the policy and the general conditions. The “specifications” document mentions the plane ticket and accommodation up to 12 months later. The max policy term means the number of days the patient stays in Mexico for the procedure. But regardless the number of days they stay, if a patient has a complication they will receive coverage for 12 months and up to $160,000 USD. If, due to a complication, a patient has to come back to Mexico for checkups, the insurance company would reimburse the plane tickets and hotel expenses to the patient as long as they prove that their trip is because of the medical complication covered by our policy. See attached for the brochure. NOVAMAR ACE MEDICAL TOURISM INSURANCE PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS FINAL.pdf

It's your total # of days staying in Mexico.

Accommodation and plane ticket for non-scheduled visit to the doctor up to 12 months later are included. I'll ask them to update the landing page. I believe the 1-30 days you're referring to is actually your length of stay in Mexico.

It hasn't been published yet. I'm the "Councilperson-At-Large" on the ASMBS Corporate Council Steering Committee and I'm privy to this info before it's publicized.

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/304888-ny-nyclong-island/ http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/303348-nj/

style="margin:0;padding:0;background-color:#d8dde8;color:#5a5a5a;font:normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif;position:relative;"> Dear BariatricPal Member, Happy Independence Day! It’s a nice way to mark time as the days of summer are at their longest and hottest. It’s also a good time to reconnect with your good WLS intentions if you’ve strayed, or to forge ahead if you’re still sticking to the program. Here’s what you’ll find in this newsletter to help you celebrate a healthy July 4 and jumpstart the rest of your summer. Celebrate Your Independence with Healthy Choices! It’s Hot – But You Don’t Need Ice Cream! Your Healthy July 4 Weekend Get some tips and inspiration from the newsletter, then don’t forget to share your holiday weekend over at BariatricPal. And thanks! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Celebrate Your Independence with Healthy Choices! July 4 is the anniversary of the American adoption of the Declaration of Independence declaring their separation from England in 1776. Each year, Americans celebrate their freedom with parades, block parties, barbecues, and the occasional Independence Day Sale! What does living in a free country really mean to you? If you are a weight loss surgery patient or are considering getting WLS, you may be in a better position than most to realize that an important part of being free is being free to make healthy choices. You are responsible for your health and choices, yes, but you are also free to make good ones! We have access to tens of thousands of healthy food products in well-stocked grocery stores. You have the freedom to choose kale over coleslaw, and chicken over ribs. We have gyms, sidewalks, and parks. You can choose to move rather than sit. We are equal under the law. You can choose to spend your time with positive people who help you make good health choices instead of with people who bring you down. So as you are singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch or you start to get ready for bed after the last of the fireworks goes off, take a few minutes to think about your freedom. You can make your own decisions about what goes in your body and what you do with your time. What will you choose to do? It’s Hot – But You Don’t Need Ice Cream! We all know what it’s like. You’re hot. You need something cold and refreshing. In the old days, you might have given in to some pretty unhealthy options – maybe a beer, a Coke, or an ice cream. But now, you know you can’t even consider these indulgences because they’re not on your weight loss surgery diet. So how can you get your refreshing treat? Not a Chance Okay, the cold treats may be tempting…until you stop to check their calories. Root beer float – 700 calories. 12-ounce beer – 120 calories. A small scoop of Chunky Monkey ice cream – 300 calories. A 20-ounce Coke or other soft drink – 250 calories. Refreshing Treats to Try You can get just as much refreshment, more nutrients, and fewer calories from other choices. What about the following? Half a frozen banana – 60 calories. Half a banana rolled in Greek yogurt mixed with cocoa powder, then frozen – 100 calories. A cup of frozen grapes – 100 calories. Frozen diet lemonade pops – 0 calories. A frozen sugar-free pudding cup – 60 calories. Keep practicing, and making the right choices will become a habit. Pretty soon, the beer and ice cream won’t even be a blip on your radar screen. Your Healthy July 4 Weekend Oxy-moron? Not at all! Between the fireworks, picnics, and family time, you can make July 4 healthy and fun. Hint: skip the baked beans, brownies, and beer, and keep moving. An Ideal Weekend “Ideal” rarely happens to anyone despite our best plans, but it’s always something nice to aim for! Here are a few of our picks for what might contribute to an ideal weekend. Grilling a vegetable you’ve never tried before. Trying a new healthy marinade for your chicken breast. Figuring out when you can schedule your surgery without interfering too much with work and family obligations. Picking out one, two, or five differences between this year and last year – maybe having to do with healthier choices or feeling better about yourself. Selecting your post-summer goal outfit that you’re going to buy if you lose the weight you expect to this summer. The Do’s Here are a few tips from our point of view for getting the most out of your weekend. Do catch up on something. Maybe it’s scheduling an informational session with a surgeon, or stocking up on some of those pantry staples like tuna fish, peanut butter, and canned tomatoes. Do have a good time. There’s absolutely no point in getting WLS and getting healthy if you can’t even enjoy the holidays. Do try to involve the family in some activity, whether it’s a short hike, a friendly game of catch, or a casual swim. Do plan ahead. Bring your water so you don’t need a soda, and take your own protein snacks so you don’t settle for cotton candy. The Don’ts Don’t pack too much into the weekend. Overscheduling can be counterproductive and leave you stressed, making you less likely to eat right and exercise next week. Don’t say “yes” to make others happy. Don’t down the brownies and chocolate chip cookies, or Don’t lose focus. You don’t want to find yourself mindlessly munching buttered popcorn while watching movies on the couch or in the theater, or sipping on soda for the duration of a three-hour family picnic. Don’t drive everyone else crazy. You can make enough healthy food for others, but you can’t force them stop eating cupcakes and ribs. Being too aggressive about your own WLS habits may make them less likely to accept them. Have a wonderful July 4, and keep working on those healthy goals! Come fill us in on your progress at BariatricPal!

WOW, just read this story in the news: http://www.10news.com/news/team-10-dozens-injured-during-weight-loss-surgery-in-Mexico Team 10: Dozens injured during weight loss surgery in Mexico Patients warn others of Dr. Mario Almanza Cristin Severance, 10News Digital Team12:17 PM, Jul 2, 2015 49 mins ago Image copyright 2012 Getty Images. SAN DIEGO - The family of a San Diego woman who went in for weight loss surgery in Mexico and ended up in a coma is desperate for answers, and dozens more say they have been seriously injured by a doctor at the same hospital. Angie Stidum has been in a coma since March 31. She traveled to Tijuana for weight loss surgery and has never woken up. Stidum's family gave Team 10 a "note of transfer," which is the only document they have from Green & Health Hospital in Tijuana. The note says she had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic and stopped breathing. Her family still has so many questions. They want to know who her surgeon was, how long she was without oxygen and what really happened to her. "I can't get any information from that hospital in Mexico," said Stidum's ex-husband, Reggie Wilson. Dozens of others have now come forward about a doctor who works at the hospital where Stidum went for surgery. Dr. Mario Almanza said he didn't operate on Stidum, but people across the country say they were seriously injured after going to him for weight loss procedures. Team 10 Troubleshooter Cristin Severance is trying to get answers for Stidum's family and help the dozens more who say they were injured by Dr. Mario Almanza. Once we started looking into these claims and connecting the dots, it opened our eyes to a pattern. How did so many people end up getting what they say was a botched surgery, even though they did their research and thought they were vetting the surgeon? On 10News at 5, Team 10's Cristin Severance shows us how doing what they thought was the right thing actually ended up hurting them -- and how shedding light on the problem could spark change. THEIR STORIES Working on this for weeks. Patients say seriously injured by weight loss doctor in Mexico. http://t.co/NE7tYER1Sipic.twitter.com/W48cHqLWSS — Cristin Severance (@10NewsSeverance) July 2, 2015 Manu Manu K. wanted a gastric band operation for one reason. "For a fresh start, a fresh healthy start," she said. Manu booked her trip to Tijuana and her surgery with Dr. Almanza. She said she chose to go to Dr. Almanza because she'd seen him before and the cost was significantly cheaper than getting the surgery in the United States. "The first time was so great, I didn't have a second thought of who it would be," said Manu. Manu went to Dr. Almanza's associate five years ago for a tummy tuck. She then booked Almanza for a band last year. A band involves an operation where surgery makes your stomach smaller so you can lose weight. This time, she said her incision never healed. "There was still a hole, the port was literally hanging out and I'd have to push it back in and then put a bandage over it," she said. Manu contacted Weight Loss Agents, a group based in Florida that books the surgeries for Dr. Almanza in Tijuana, and told them she was having issues. "Dr. Almanza's team, they chucked it off as well, 'he'll remove it for $6,000 or so,'" she said. Manu couldn't believe she'd have to pay for Dr. Almanza to fix the problem. Instead, she went to another facility in Tijuana for the repair. Doctors at that facility told Team 10 they found a hole in Manu's stomach. She talked to Team 10 days after the five hour surgery. "Who knows how much longer I would have lasted, who knows," said Manu. David David Rush booked a gastric sleeve with Dr. Mario Almanza through Weight Loss Agents as well. His red flag went up when he touched down in San Diego. "There's like 10 people waiting to be picked up for the same surgery, for the same doctor, this Almanza guy," he said. Rush said he felt sick moments after surgery in Tijuana and was in and out of consciousness. "They load me up in this old, beat up Suburban," said Rush. "I wake up in a hospital in San Diego. 'We got a call from the border patrol and you were so out of it, they called an ambulance and that's how they got you.'" Rush said his suitcase and phone made it to Scripps Hospital in San Diego too. "The doctors got a hold of my mom and they said 'you need to get your whole family here now, he is in bad shape. He had an infection and it's in his blood stream,'" he said. Rush said it took a month of rehabilitation to walk again. "What kind of doctor's office drops you off at the border and doesn't even know if someone is going to find you?" asked Rush. Faye A Northern California woman named Faye is upset with herself and asked us not to use her full name. "I feel like the whole thing is my fault," she said. She said Dr. Almanza did her weight loss surgery in Tijuana. "It hadn't been done correctly and it had been infected since day one," she said. Faye said the infection was pushing up under her lung and she couldn't breathe. She went to the hospital at home in the U.S. "They laid me over a bed and took a metal straw, poked my back and drained the infection," Fay said. "He showed me a quart-sized Ziplock bag and it was filled and it looked like gravy." "They told me I would have died. He said 'maybe six more hours and you wouldn't have made it,'" Fay said. Francenett Francenett Littleton flew to San Diego from Dallas to have a weight loss surgery and a breast augmentation at the clinic in Tijuana. She said the weight loss surgery was performed by Dr. Almanza and the breast augmentation was done at the same time by a plastic surgeon at the clinic. "I look like Frankenstein in my stomach. I have too many scars -- very bad," said Littleton. "I don't have a nipple on the left side of my breast, I lost it because I have no circulation." Littleton's husband said a plastic surgeon in Dallas said the implants may have been used and weren't sterilized properly either. Littleton told Team 10 she was on life support and in intensive care for a month in Dallas. WHY MEXICO? The Medical Tourism group Patients Beyond Borders says weight loss surgery is 40 to 60 percent cheaper in Mexico than in the U.S. The Secretary of Tourism's office in Mexico told Team 10 that medical procedures draw more than 1.25 million patients each year to Mexico, and at least 600,000 of them to Baja California. Patients Beyond Borders said weight loss surgery in any country can be tricky. "Bariatrics and weight loss procedures are fraught with challenges for the medical traveler: difficulties vetting facilities; numerous potential complications post-op; need for follow-up with weight-loss and wellness programs, etc.," said Patients Beyond Borders CEO Josef Woodman. Numerous other experts and doctors based in Tijuana, Mexico said there are good surgeons in Mexico, and there are ways to truly vet them before deciding to do surgery (scroll to the bottom of this article for links and resources). All of the patients of Dr. Almanza's that we spoke to said they knew someone who had a successful weight loss surgery in Mexico. They all found Dr. Almanza online and flew to San Diego where they were picked up by the hospital and taken to Tijuana. WHO IS DR. MARIO ALMANZA? According to Dr. Mario Almanza's website, Almanza is the leading gastric sleeve surgeon in the world, and has performed more gastric sleeve procedures than anyone else in the world. The Florida based group Weight Loss Agents books surgeries and procedures for Dr. Mario Almanza at HMN hospital. All of the patients interviewed by Team 10 said they contacted Weight Loss Agents before surgery to make to reservations and book the procedure. Almanza is also listed as a surgeon at Green and Health hospital in Tijuana, though Weight Loss Agents told Team 10 they do not work with Green and Health. Dr. Almanza's administrator said Almanza wasn't the doctor who performed surgery on Angie Stidum. He said Almanza was on vacation at the time of Stidum's surgery and sent Team 10 emails he says proves Almanza was in San Felipe, Mexico at the time. Dr. Almanza's administrator told Team 10 he's looking into the allegations of patients being harmed by Almanza and will be providing us a statement. Weight Loss Agents also directed Team 10 to the thousands of positive testimonials online. The patients that came forward say their injuries are too serious to ignore. "He should be stopped. I know he's not in the states but that's where he's getting his money," said Faye. SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS Team 10 is working to get answers for Stidum's family and help the people who all say they were seriously hurt by Almanza. With the help of 10News Azteca anchor Claudia Llausas, Team 10 called Green & Health Hospital and was hung up on each time. Team 10 also tried to get more information from Weight Loss Agents. They sent a statement to Team 10 regarding the number of alleged injuries through email that read: Keep in mind that bariatric patients often present multiple co-morbidities, may not be in the best of health to begin with, and need to follow postop guidelines very carefully, despite their urges to cheat and break the rules. After their surgical intervention, they'll feel great, a day or two after surgery they might not even feel like they had surgery, so they might want to cheat the guidelines. However, they must follow postoperative guidelines very carefully, otherwise they can certainly put their health at risk. We hope you urge your readers who are considering bariatric surgery to follow the guidelines they're given, to reduce the chance that they become part of the small statistic group with a negative outcome. Such advice is without borders. We assure you that patient health and safety is the #1 concern, and every measures is taken by providers to know their limits and to balance their workloads - creating a balanced practice providing the most positive outcomes possible. Team 10 has reached out to agencies in the U.S. -- including the State Department, CDC and FDA -- since all of these patients are U.S. citizens. Team 10 then brought the complaints to the Mexican Consulate of San Diego. "It's very important that people who have surgery in Mexico, Mexican nationals or U.S. citizens are safe, but you have to tell us," said Maria de los Remedios Gomez Arnau. She said there are Mexican agencies that will track these complaints and investigate claims. Team 10 also spoke to the former president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Jaime Ponce. Ponce has been a bariatric surgeon since 1999. He said the main problem with getting surgery in Mexico is they don't normally follow up with patients, and U.S. doctors aren't necessarily going to want to follow up with a patient that goes to Mexico because of the liability. Ponce said that if a patient insists on going to Mexico they need to do the following: Check that the surgeon is credentialed by a credential agency in Mexico. Check to see if the center has enough resources and experience to do the surgery. Ask the surgeon if they can help arrange follow up in the United States As of right now, the forms where you can fill out complaints about doctors or clinics are only done in Spanish. The state of Baja is working to make them available in English too. 10News is working to connect Angie's family with the two government agencies that can investigate doctors in Mexico. The Mexican Tourism Board also told 10News they are getting involved. RESOURCES The Secretary of Tourism's office sent a statement and some information to Team 10 regarding our investigation: Cofepris is a government agency that will act on your complaints of poor care by a surgeon, clinic or hospital. If you believe your plastic surgeon has done medical malpractice, you can go here and fill out a contact form. The health and safety of visitors is our highest priority. We are aware of Ms. Stidum’s case and are deeply saddened by the outcome of her procedure. We strongly encourage anyone that has had an issue to file a formal complaint by taking the following steps: Contact the Baja California Medical Arbitration Office -- Tijuana Office, Centro Comercial "Las Palmas," Tijuana, B.C. Mexico +52-664-900-7511 / Mexicali Office, Av. de los Héroes s/n local h9-31 Plaza Fiesta, Centro Cívico +52-686-557-2990 All complaints must be filed by the patient or family members with power of attorney, within the offices of CAMEBC and must bring a picture ID, as well as all supporting medical records and/or documentation. While you can find great value in medical care in Baja California, if the price seems too low to believe, you probably should do extra homework to ensure a reputable doctor is offering the services and that there are no hidden costs; patients should also be aware of American companies offering surgical services in Mexico way below the average cost. The Secretary of Tourism’s office is committed to working with authorities to ensure the ongoing safety of these and other medical procedures that draw more than 1.25 million patients each year to Mexico, and at least 600,000 of them to Baja California. You can report Mexican medical malpractice of plastic surgeons, here. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery has a page where you can search for a provider. This organization provides surgeons with up to date techniques, studies, etc. Most of the better surgeons available will be listed here because they want to keep up on the latest in bariatrics. This is a Mexican government website where you can check if your plastic surgeon is board certified in plastic surgery. You need to know the state where your potential surgeon practices. If his/her name is not on the list, they are not an actual plastic surgeon. This link is updated each time the test for board certification is offered. You can check to see if your bariatric surgeon is board certified in bariatric surgery. Being board certified in general surgery is not the same as being board certified in bariatric surgery. If your surgeon is not on the list, they are not board certified in bariatric surgery.

Ditto! I'm surprised that the #'s aren't increasing at a quicker pace year over year.

Here's a link to my post on this topic.

We're happy to announce that we've partnered with two Insurance companies to offer our members inexpensive Medical Tourism Insurance. 1) Novamar Insurance offers our members a fantastic and inexpensive medical tourism insurance policy. Why you need Medical Tourism Insurance While surgeons and hospitals take every precaution to protect your safety, the possibility of a complication exists for every surgery in any country, due to the natural conditions of a patient. Because the medical procedure is self-paid, patients will also be required to cover additional expenses should a complication occur during the procedure. Our Medical Tourism Insurance Policy A Medical Tourism Insurance Policy is as important as your Passport when it comes to security and added peace of mind. Whether your medical procedure is cosmetic or not, Our Medical Tourism Insurance provides you the peace of mind you deserve by covering the extra medical, hospital, and lodging expenses resulting from a medical complication that occurs during a covered treatment in Mexico. -These are some of the benefits offered by our policy: Medical complications expenses: $160,000.00 Additional daily hospital room *: $120.00Per day / Max. 10 days Additional medical consultations *: $40.00 Per consultations / Max.10 consultations Travel and accommodation daily expenses *: $120.00 Per day/ Max. 10 days Additional travel expenses: $160.00 Accommodation and plane ticket for non-scheduled visit to the doctor up to 12 months later : Included Travel Assistance 24/7: Included Travel Liability: $20,000.00 *The amounts expressed for these coverages are above the $160,000 USD limit. Coverage Limits(USDollars) Our policy is underwritten by ACE, a worldwide leader in the global insurance industry with operations in 54 countries. The financial strength of ACE has allowed us to offer 2 great benefits to our clients: 1. Direct payment to most hospitals and doctors in Mexico. 2. One of the highest coverage limits of a policy of this kind in the world. Medical Tourism Insurance - Brochure.pdf Comparison chart Medical Tourism Insurance.pdf NOVAMAR ACE MEDICAL TOURISM INSURANCE PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS FINAL.pdf How to buy it 1. Click to purchase your Medical Tourism Insurance policy here. 2. Answer three simple questions and our online system will return a quote in a matter of seconds. 3. Fill out the required fields, make the payment by credit card and receive your policy by email immediately. -For your convenience, we have the option to purchase your policy with up to 30 days in advance of your medical procedure or even one hour before it starts. -Along with your policy, you will receive claim filing information that will explain how to file a claim and receive immediate attention should you need assistance. Novamar Insurance Mexico is a Founding Member of the Board of Medical Tourism in Mexico, and has been present at the Annual Medical Tourism Congress for the last five years among other international events. Novamar is, so far, the only company in Mexico that provides this type of insurance policy. Novamar Insurance Mexico is an affiliate company of Novamar Insurance Group, Inc.a company based in the U.S. and founded in 1987. Our experience and reputation over the last 28 years translates into excellent relationships with domestic and international underwriters, which allows Novamar to provide the best insurance solutions at the most competitive premiums. 2) Global Protective Solutions Insurance offers our members a fantastic and inexpensive medical tourism insurance policy. Here's an approximate cost. You'll receive an exact cost once you complete the free online insurance quote. Capital Sum Limit $50,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000 Cost $394.00 $677.00 $961.00 $1245.00 $1528.00 When travelling abroad most people buy a travel insurance policy which insures them against things like theft, accidents and flight delays. If deciding to have medical or dental procedures overseas it can be a good idea to combine travel insurance with a type of medical insurance that insures you if having elective medical procedures overseas. BariatricPal has looked at many of these insurance packages and we feel that Global Protective Solutions offers a very comprehensive package that can be tailored to your specific needs. GPS has developed and discovered insurance solutions for medical tourists and the medical tourism industry. GPS provides benefits for participating medical tourists or medical travelers from almost any country for accidents and complications. Even with the best surgeons and best hospitals medical procedures always carry a certain amount of risk so we would urge you to think about taking out this type of insurance. You can read more and apply for a quote directly through the following link. GPS Individual-medical flyer11-09.pdf Combined Coverage Highlights-Summary Illness FUO 1-2015.pdf Medical Insurance for Medical Tourism Patients has been developed to provide a product to insure the “deep pocket” expenses that may result from a complication of a medical tourism event. It was not designed to cover baggage, change fees for tickets or other minor trip related expenses. The purpose was to help insure larger financial hardships that may occur should an accident or complication from a covered procedure result in a more significant loss. In addition to the regular travel accident exposure, our coverage has been enhanced to include results of a covered complication where indicated for up to 6 months after the initial procedure. You will find most policies only include corrective procedure limits for complications of a covered medical procedure and they typically exclude complications from the rest of the policy coverage. Complication means Bodily Injury from a Medical Procedure incurred whiles an Insured Person is travelling for the purpose of receiving medical or surgical treatment outside the Insured Person’s country of residence. Complication does not include undesired outcomes or a failed procedure. A complication that causes death can not be the result of a previously undiagnosed medical condition that first manifests itself during the insured Person’s period of travel or within 24 hours of return to the Insured Person’s home country. The complication can not result from the Insured Person’s failure to follow all pre- and post- procedure medical instructions.

We're happy to announce that we've partnered with Novamar Insurance to offer our members a fantastic and inexpensive Medical Tourism insurance policy. Why you need Medical Tourism Insurance While surgeons and hospitals take every precaution to protect your safety, the possibility of a complication exists for every surgery in any country, due to the natural conditions of a patient. Because the medical procedure is self-paid, patients will also be required to cover additional expenses should a complication occur during the procedure. Our Medical Tourism Insurance Policy A Medical Tourism Insurance Policy is as important as your Passport when it comes to security and added peace of mind. Whether your medical procedure is cosmetic or not, Our Medical Tourism Insurance provides you the peace of mind you deserve by covering the extra medical, hospital, and lodging expenses resulting from a medical complication that occurs during a covered treatment in Mexico. -These are some of the benefits offered by our policy: Medical complications expenses: $160,000.00 Additional daily hospital room *: $120.00Per day / Max. 10 days Additional medicalconsultations *: $40.00 Per consultations / Max.10 consultations Travel and accommodation daily expenses *: $120.00 Per day/ Max. 10 days Additional travel expenses: $160.00 Accommodation and plane ticket for non-scheduled visit to the doctor up to 12 months later : Included Travel Assistance 24/7: Included Travel Liability: $20,000.00 *The amounts expressed for these coverages are above the $160,000 USD limit. Coverage Limits(USDollars) Our policy is underwritten by ACE, a worldwide leader in the global insurance industry with operations in 54 countries. The financial strength of ACE has allowed us to offer 2 great benefits to our clients: 1. Direct payment to most hospitals and doctors in Mexico. 2. One of the highest coverage limits of a policy of this kind in the world. How to buy it 1. Click to purchase your Medical Tourism Insurance policy here. 2. Answer three simple questions and our online system will return a quote in a matter of seconds. 3. Fill out the required fields, make the payment by credit card and receive your policy by email immediately. -For your convenience, we have the option to purchase your policy with up to 30 days in advance of your medical procedure or even one hour before it starts. -Along with your policy, you will receive claim filing information that will explain how to file a claim and receive immediate attention should you need assistance. Novamar Insurance Mexico is a Founding Member of the Board of Medical Tourism in Mexico, and has been present at the Annual Medical Tourism Congress for the last five years among other international events. Novamar is, so far, the only company in Mexico that provides this type of insurance policy. Novamar Insurance Mexico is an affiliate company of Novamar Insurance Group, Inc.a company based in the U.S. and founded in 1987. Our experience and reputation over the last 28 years translates into excellent relationships with domestic and international underwriters, which allows Novamar to provide the best insurance solutions at the most competitive premiums.

The sleeve will have even higher #'s in 2015. It's definitely the surgery of choice these days. Other would be procedures like MGB (Mini Gastric Bypass) and Gastric Plication.

This is the Bariatric Surgery Numbers Estimation from ASMBS for the US:

This is a great read for members interested in upcoming Bariatric procedures. The Lyon New Bariatric Tech and Expert meeting highlighted some of the hot topics regarding "state of the art" and very recent minimally invasive weight loss procedures. Here are some highlights from the meeting: Part 1 Part 2 Page 3

Can you post a link or two, please?

You’re considering weight loss surgery, you’ve scheduled it, or you’ve already gotten it. Are you going to be successful with it? Historically speaking, the answer is “No.” Maybe that’s not what you wanted to hear, but it’s true. Just take a look at your past. You haven´t been able to lose weight and keep it off. It you had, you wouldn’t be looking at Weight Loss Surgery. But that’s no matter. Your past does not need to determine your future. Replace old habits and attitudes and look forward instead of back. That’s how you will be able to get the results you want instead of the disappointments you used to get. In this first article of the two-part series, we’ll take a look at some of the problems from the past that could stand in your way. Part 2 of the series will have a few more. Problem: Childhood Habits No joke. It’s hard to shake off the behaviors you learned while growing up. Maybe your family traditions were something like making pancakes and sausage on Saturday mornings, ordering pizza on Wednesday nights, and watching Sunday afternoon football while eating the usual unhealthy snacks. Maybe your “habits” were actually lack of habits – maybe you didn’t grow up walking to school or playing outdoors every day. Do you see yourself clinging to the old traditions, whether or not purposefully? Give yourself permission to let go of the old ones, and maybe even create some new ones. You don’t need to plop down in front of the TV after dinner just because you always have. Maybe you could take a walk. You don’t need to meet your parents at a favorite Italian restaurant every week. Maybe you could meet for coffee. Or, you could meet at the Italian restaurant, but change your usual order of spaghetti and meatballs to a salad. It’s time to stop letting your childhood dominate your current life and health. And here’s food for thought: if you’re old enough to get weight loss surgery, you’re old enough to make your own traditions. Problem: Mistaking “Food” for “Love” This can be one of the biggest obstacles for weight loss surgery patients because it can lead to conflict between them and their families. Maybe it’s the Jewish or Italian mother who guilts you into eating, the Asian culture that requires you to clean your plate, the Latin American family that solves problems at the dinner table, or the African American community known for soul food. Which of these or other food-centric cultures you were raised in doesn’t matter; the point is somehow food got confused with showing love. Somehow, eating for reasons other than hunger – for celebration, comfort, courtesy, expression of love – became cultural norms. Your personal history may be weighing you down if you are eating to make other people happy. This won’t work for you. It can stall weight loss and continue to make you feel dependent on others. Instead, make the decision now to eat for yourself – to nourish yourself, to fuel yourself, to be able to enjoy life. There are many ways to give and receive love besides eating food that is literally killing you slowly. Problem: Devaluing Yourself You wake up before dawn to clean the house. Then you get the rest of the family up and ready, and make, serve, and clean up from breakfast. You drop the kids off at school on the way to work, then pick them up on your way home. You help them with homework, make and eat dinner, and put the kids to bed. After a few minutes with your spouse, you hit the sack yourself. The day is over, and you haven’t had one second to yourself. Sound familiar? If this – or something like it – has been your life for years, you’re setting yourself up for weight loss underachievement because you’re undervaluing yourself. Where’s the you time in this day? You deserve it, and it's up’to you to take it. It’s not something you should feel guilty about, but if you do, consider this: doing your best for yourself puts you in the position to do your best for others, too. Problem: Hanging with the Wrong People It’s true. The people you hang out with affect your weight just as much as your genes do. If your friends are obese, they may be setting you up for much bigger struggle than necessary against obesity. That’s because you are likely to make the same choices they make. You sit on the couch with them and order unhealthy dishes with them. In contrast, skinny friends may influence you to eat healthier and be more active. If you notice your friends dragging you down, feel free to say something. You can politely ask to get together to shoot hoops instead of drink beer. Catch up at the park or over coffee, not over nachos. Collect and test healthy recipes instead of decadent desserts. Changing those age-old habits may not be that hard. If your friends refuse to change their activities and you still want to spend time with them, you can. Just be aware of how their choices can affect yours, and make sure it doesn’t happen. Do any of the above sound familiar? If they do, think about how you can avoid making the same mistakes this time around. Some of the smallest changes in attitudes can lead to big changes in results. Stay tuned for Part 2 of the series for more!

That would be wonderful Alex, I really appreciate that you willing to do this. I have downloaded the kindle for pc on my laptop. What additional info do you need from me and should it be in a private email to you? Check your email. Enjoy!

Sarah51692, It sounds like your nutritionist is right. If you’re getting so few calories, you’re definitely getting few enough to lose weight. At that level of calories and at this point in your WLS journey, it’s really much more important to get enough fluids and Protein. Cutting back by a couple hundred calories to stay at 550-600 instead of 700 and in the process giving yourself a protein deficiency is really counterproductive. Good luck!

Nope, that’s not vain at all, in my opinion! It always feels nice to get compliments, especially for something we’ve worked so hard at. Now, why haven’t people commented? Maybe they haven’t noticed. Depending on how your body weight is distributed and what you wear, it can take a loss of 10 or 20% or more before people even suspect you may be losing weight, and it can take more before they’re sure enough to comment on it. They may also be hesitant to comment on it. As others here have experienced, your friends and family and coworkers might not want to comment on your weight if it’s gone up and down a lot before. For me, I am hesitant to comment on other people’s weight loss when I am not sure how they will react. Some people really hate comments on their weight, even if they are compliments. I always worry that they may think I’m being patronizing or simply nosy. Keep losing weight, though, and the compliments will come sooner or later. When they do, they will be so worth it!

Phone and phone charger, and tablet or ipad and adapter, if you can’t live without them. Beforehand, you might want to download a movie or TV show to watch so you don’t have to depend on the hospital’s wi-fi. You might be too tired to watch something, but you might want to…you never know. If music calms you, you might want to bring headphones and download a few songs, too. Don't forget to bring everything related to your medical records and insurance! Good luck!

Not sure if PDF normally supports the features you've mentioned. I can give you the Nook or Kindle version free of charge and you just have to install the Nook or Kindle app on your computer and you'll have all the features you've mentioned.