Alex Brecher

Jean, thanks for pointing this out. I'm going to close this thread.

Thank you! Happy New Year to you and your fam as well! I have a great feeling about 2014

Hey, BariatricPal Members! Happy New Year! We just sent out our regular monthly newsletter, but are sending out today’s newsletter to focus on the New Year! Our holiday newsletters will be a little bit different, focusing specifically on the holiday and giving tips to make the most of it as a weight loss surgery patient or potential patient. This is what you will find as you keep reading this BariatricPal New Year’s newsletter: Saying Goodbye to 2013 Getting Back on Track in the New Year New Year’s Resolutions That Can Inspire Success Guide to Setting Weight Loss Surgery-Related Goals for 2014 We hope this newsletter will help you plan your healthy New Year. For more ideas and inspiration, head on over to BariatricPal and join the conversations. We will see you on the boards! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Saying Goodbye to 2013 The New Year is full of promise and hope. You may be eager to start with a clean slate and look ahead to 2014, but taking a few minutes to say goodbye to 2013 can make the difference in your health and weight loss in 2014. Consider how 2013 went, what went well in the Old Year, and what you would like to work on in the New Year. Evaluate 2013 How would you say 2013 went overall? Did you have specific goals? Did you meet them? These are some examples of goals and progress toward them: Get weight loss surgery: Yes! Lose 50 pounds: No, only 35 pounds since surgery in May. Slipped up during family vacation in August. Complete 10-mile hike. No, but signed up for one in February and am training for it. What Will You Work on in 2014? Some of your shortcomings in 2013 were undoubtedly out of your control, but others may be within your control. Think about which goals you failed to meet, and try to figure out how you can work toward them in 2014. Put these in a positive light so that you are not beating yourself up over the past, but are eager to work hard in 2014. These are some examples: Wanted weight loss surgery, but did not know how the insurance worked. Solution: check insurance company’s online sources and phone for information. Allowed others’ rude remarks throw off the diet. Solution: practice staying strong and ignoring anyone who diminishes the bariatric surgery journey. Steadily lost weight while tracking, plateaued when not careful. Solution: always track every meal. Developed esophagitis and had to deflate the lap-band for 6 weeks while it healed. Solution: do not overfill the band, and consult surgeon if unsure about whether it is filled adequately. Now that you have a handle on what went well and what did not in 2013, you can make a clearer, more effective plan for 2014. Taking stock of 2013 can help you get closer to your weight loss goals and on a path to a healthier lifestyle in 2014. Getting Back on Track in the New Year The season can last for more than a full month, from before Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. During this time, high-calorie holiday food is everywhere, you might be too busy to exercise as much as usual, and stress can be high. You are not the only one if you slipped off away from your healthy lifestyle and fell short of your weight loss goals. All people who are watching their diets can struggle during the holidays. Weight loss surgery patients can have it even tougher because of dietary restrictions, the fear of complications, and the return of haunting old habits (does “eating everything in sight” sound familiar?). However, the New Year is the time to get back on track, and these tips can help you: Honestly assess the last month or two. How bad was it really? Did you fall a few pounds of your weight loss goals, did you plateau, or did you gain weight? Was it a question of eating a few high-calorie meals on special occasions, or did you munch steadily from morning until night from November through December? Recognizing how you got off track can help you get back on track. Forgive yourself. Anger and shame will just add to your load in 2014. Leave them in 2013 and start 2014 with a clean slate. Remember that you deserve to forgive yourself, just like you would forgive anyone who erred and is asking for your forgiveness in the New Year. Do not let the past get you down. Chances are that once you look clearly at the past month, things are not as bad as you feared. You probably did not gain as much weight or skip as many workouts as you think. Even if you did, undoing the damage is probably within reach. Look ahead, not back. Think not about what went wrong during the holidays, but about what will go right in the coming weeks and months. Also appreciate your own role. You get to choose your behaviors and determine your outcomes. Login to BariatricPal. Chatting with other weight loss surgery patients has multiple purposes. It lets you voice your concerns, fears, and hopes. It lets you know that others are going through the same experience as you, or have gone through the same thing in previous years and come out on top. It focuses you on the future. Your good habits might have slipped over the holidays, but you can set yourself straight again. Whether you are preparing for surgery, losing weight after surgery, or maintaining your healthy lifestyle at goal weight, your healthy habits will pay off quickly. New Year’s Resolutions That Can Inspire Success New Year’s resolutions symbolize a clean slate and working toward new accomplishments. The wrong resolutions can be too unrealistic, or be so vague that they have no defined endpoint. The right resolutions can inspire you to work harder toward your goals. These are some tips for making good New Year’s resolutions, whether or not related to weight loss surgery: Make them specific so that you know whether or not you have achieved them. “I will compliment my husband at least three times a week” instead of “I will be nicer to my husband,” or, “I will eat at least one serving of Protein at each meal before eating anything else,” instead of “I will make protein a priority,” or, “I will go to the gym for at least 30 minutes three times per week,” not, “I will get in shape.” Make them realistic. “I will check the nutritional facts beforehand and order lean Proteins and vegetables when eating out,” not “I will not go to restaurants.” Leave room for error. “I will eat at least 65 grams of protein per day at least 5 times per week,” instead of “I will eat at least 65 grams of protein each day,” Focus on what you can control. “I will pack my Breakfast and lunch instead of going for fast food,” instead of, “I will lose 5 pounds per week,” or, “I will follow my dietitian’s weight loss surgery diet menus,” instead of “I will lose enough weight to get off of diabetes medications.” Focus on behaviors rather than results. “I will eat slower and avoid fried foods,” instead of, “I will avoid weight loss surgery complications.” These are a few more ideas for resolutions. Use them as written, modify them to meet your needs, or use them for inspiration as you develop your own resolutions. I will set aside one afternoon each week for preparing and storing my meals for the week. I will make a weekly list of my good decisions, such as passing up a lunchtime trip to the bakery with co-workers or putting workout clothes and shoes in the car. I will weigh myself one morning per week, think carefully about what caused the number on the scale, and post the update to BariatricPal. I will lose enough weight and be in good enough shape to enjoy our family’s dream vacation to Hawaii next summer. I will eat breakfast at least six days per week and include a serving of protein. I will measure and log all of my meals and Snacks. The New Year should be a time for celebration, hope, and a fresh start. This newsletter should help you transition from 2013 so that you can make 2014 the very best it can for your weight loss and health. We wish you the very best for 2014. Here’s a toast to your health and weight loss, to making BariatricPal part of your weight loss journey, and to BariatricPal’s growth. Cheers! Alex

It really depends on your state. You need to check your state health insurance marketplace to see if there are plans that cover weight loss surgery. Certain states offer them and certain states offer them at a premium. Twenty-two states chose benchmark plans that cover bariatric surgery: Arizona, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming Five states chose benchmark plans that cover weight loss programs: California, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico Twenty-eight states chose benchmark plans that cover neither bariatric surgery nor weight loss programs: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin One state covers weight loss programs but not bariatric surgery: District of Columbia

Hey, BariatricPal Members! We hope that your holidays have been peaceful and joyful, and that you have had a wonderful end to 2013. The holiday season can be a challenging time for people who are trying to lose weight, and especially for weight loss surgery patients who are on strict diets. We hope BariatricPal has helped you through these months! If you have been on the forums recently, you know that a lot has been going on! Whether you have or have not been on the boards recently, we’ll get you up to speed in this newsletter. Here is what we have for you in this month’s letter. · BariatricPal – Turning Something Good into Something Great! · BariatricPal Member Poll – How Does the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) Affect You? · BariatricPal Member Spotlight – Meet Gmanbat! · A Heartfelt “Thank You!” from BariatricPal · Checklist for Transitioning to BariatricPal Read on for all of the updates, and then come by BariatricPal to stay motivated and check out the new site if you have not yet done so. Enjoy the newsletter, and keep watching your inbox for our special New Year’s newsletter coming within days! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal BariatricPal – Turning Something Good into Something Great! Like you, we loved the family of Weight Loss Surgery Boards (WLSBoards). Members depended on LapBandTalk, VerticalSleeveTalk and RNYTalk for advice, socializing, and support. When BariatricPal launched last month, many of you brought up the old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” While we certainly understand this reaction, we prefer the saying, “Never rest on your laurels!” BariatricPal is everything that WLSBoards was, and more. Why the Switch from WLSBoards to BariatricPal? As a platform for all types of weight loss surgery, BariatricPal has a stronger position as a unified voice for bariatric surgery in the fight against obesity. While the individual types of bariatric surgery may differ, they are all tools to help us overcome obesity. Another benefit of the single site is that members can access more resources. BariatricPal has an entire informational section on weight loss surgery procedures, complications, benefits, surgeons, diet, and other relevant content. The surgeon directories let you find surgeons in your area who perform the type(s) of bariatric surgeries that you are considering. And, as you investigate weight loss surgery and compare types, you can get the opinions and experiences from BariatricPal members who have personally experienced kind of weight loss surgery. That is, you are not confined to a single type of surgery. Even if you have had surgery, you can still benefit from other members’ experiences and knowledge on topics such as recipes, finding a good surgeon and bariatric facilities, overcoming complications, and building your own support system with your friends and family. What remains the same about BariatricPal? · Dedicated forums for lap-band, gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, sleeve plication and Duodenal Switch. · Same leadership under Alex Brecher, founder of WLSBoards and BariatricPal, and a successful lap-band patient. · The same forum rules to maintain courteous and respectful conversations. · Personal profiles, photo galleries, blogs, private messaging systems, and chat rooms · Surgeon directories and reviews · Mobile apps for iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch or for your Android device (be sure to get your BariatricPal app because the old apps do not work anymore!) What is new at BariatricPal? · General forums to discuss general weight loss surgery topics · Forum hosts to monitor the forums · Comprehensive informational section to answer your weight loss surgery questions · BariatricPal Ambassadors for social media We are thrilled with BariatricPal so far, and know it will only grow and improve. We have many plans for 2014. Be sure to check in often and stay tuned so you can stay on top of all of the new changes and, of course, take advantage of all that BariatricPal offers. BariatricPal Member Poll – How Does the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) Affect You? The health care you receive and how you pay for it are critical issues for you if you are an obese patient, a weight loss surgery patient, or a potential patient. How will you be affected when some provisions of the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) come into effect in 2014? A. This is great for me! I could not afford health insurance before, but with the financial assistance and ban on denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, I will get insurance and may be able to get weight loss surgery for less! B. Can’t complain! My new plan’s costs and coverage are similar to or better than they were before. C. It is awful. I loved my plan before, and now have to switch surgeons or primary care doctors to comply with Obamacare. D. It’s not the best for me personally because my premiums are increasing, but I think it will be good for the country. E. It is good. Weight loss surgery was not covered under my previous plan, but it will be covered now. F. I do not know if I like the changes or not. I can keep my doctor and other healthcare providers, but am not sure how the costs and services will change. G. I do not like it. My premiums and co-pays increased and I am not going to get any benefits from the new system. H. I don’t know, but I am going to going to find out as soon as possible by calling my employer, going to healthcare.gov or my own state’s health insurance exchange marketplace site, or calling my current insurance provider. Mark your answer and let us know how you feel on the discussion boards! Also, feel free to ask questions and discuss Obamacare – we can all stand to learn something! BariatricPal Member Spotlight – Meet Gmanbat! This month, we have the pleasure of introducing you to Gmanbat…and to his wife, too! Both suffered from obesity. gmanbat was 280 pounds before 2009, when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Between his Lupron medication, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and Prednisone, he reached 340 pounds and had high blood pressure, sleep apnea, diabetes and chest pain. He could not move well or tie his shoes. When gmanbat’s wife decided to investigate weight loss surgery, gmanbat had objections. However, when they went together to an informational seminar, gmanbat decided that he supported her surgery…and was considering it for himself! Gmanbat chose the gastric sleeve because it does not have the nutrient malapsorption that gastric bypass does. As a cancer survivor, he is very aware of his nutrient intake. His wife chose the gastric bypass, which can lead to faster resolution of diabetes. She is down to 125 pounds from 235; he has lost 120 pounds to 220! Neither gmanbat nor his wife have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes or sleep apnea any more. They are strong and active, and their grandchildren have to work to keep up with them! Gmanbat describes a great moment at Macy’s, when he fulfilled a pre-surgery promise to come back and fit into the suits there. He also enjoyed going on the Universal Studios rides with his grand-daughter instead of being pushed around in a wheelchair. He and his wife love going to restaurants, splitting a meal and still needing a take-home box. He says the forum is important to him. He relied on it in the beginning, and is “still learning from the members.” He feels close to the friends he has made here, and is happy to help new members, even when they ask new questions. As he says, everyone deserves compassion. His advice is to keep learning and not to give up. “Your body’s weight loss schedule does not necessarily sync with the one in your brain.” In return, we are grateful to gmanbat for being a BariatricPal host! Please be sure to thank him if you bump into him on the boards! Gmanbat, thank you for telling us about you and your wife! You are an inspirational couple, and you deserve your success. A Heartfelt “Thank You!” from BariatricPal The past few months have been pretty busy here at BariatricPal, but we are not too busy to forget to notice and thank those of you who have helped us out. We are grateful to all of our members who stood by us and made the transition to BariatricPal from LapBandTalk, VerticalSleeveTalk and RNYTalk. We also welcome any new members who have joined us since the launch of BariatricPal. We are particularly grateful to the following members. · To every member who found a bug in the new BariatricPal site and politely alerted us about it. · To BariatricPal Ambassadors, who are our voices on major social media outlets. · To BariatricPal Forum Hosts, who monitor the forums and welcome new members. Checklist for Transitioning to BariatricPal BariatricPal launched in November and was instantly (almost) fully functional. Member accounts and profiles, private messages, and the old discussion boards were automatically brought in to BariatricPal from the former WLSBoards. You can still do a few things to complete your transition to BariatricPal. · Look over, update, and complete your patient and surgeon information. · If you have forgotten your password, please follow the instructions provided here to login. · Choose your settings for whether you would like to receive BariatricPal updates regarding all types of weight loss surgery or just for your particular one. Of course, while you’re at BariatricPal, please join the conversations! Feel free to introduce or re-introduce yourself on any of the forums, ask your questions, and share your experiences. Thank you for your continued support through the transition to BariatricPal. Your participation and feedback are what keep the boards going. Please feel free to contact us at any time with feedback or to report site problems. We are excited for the launch of BariatricPal and to see what 2014 will bring all of us! Happy New Year! Sincerely, Alex

Alex, Did you lose all my posts when the forum changed? I had a lot of posts. Thanks! No posts were lost. The post count you have *might* be off. You think you have more than 934 posts ?

It's tough to do from the app. You can do it but by clicking here. That'll open your browser. You'll need to scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and click "FULL VERSION". That'll bring you to a page where you can upload your before and after pics. I suggest trying this from your desktop computer instead.

We're working on completely redesigned versions of our iOS and Android apps. We were hoping to have the beta's released to our members by now but they've been a little delayed. We should be rolling out the Android version mid January and the iOS version should follow soon after. Please join our beta team once we announce the release. We most definitely would love your future input and suggestions.

I've had the Lap-band for 10 1/2 years now and most definitely consider myself a success. I know many many long term successful Lap-band patients as well. It should be considered a tool like any other WLS. The Band is a lot easier to target blame since it's a device. It difficult to blame the staples when someone fails their sleeve. There are positives and negatives to each procedure. I'm not going to get caught up in this debate Please read through the rules you agreed to abide by when signing up. I'll list the first two lines so you get an idea of what I'm getting at..... Be polite. Rudeness is not tolerated and can lead to post removal or account suspension. All members have the right to express their opinions and are encouraged to do so while maintaining a courteous tone.

Here's a list of all member title ranks and their associated minimum post count: Newbie: 0 Novice: 10 Intermediate Member: 20 Advanced Member: 30 Senior Member: 50 Expert Member: 100 Guru in Training: 200 Junior Guru: 300 Bariatric Guru: 400 Aspiring Evangelist: 500 Bariatric Evangelist: 750 Bariatric Master: 1000 Bariatric Hero: 2000 Bariatric Legend: 3000 Bariatric God: 5000

Not yet. This is a feature we're going to add over the next month or two.

You're still showing as Pre Op because you haven't selected a surgery. You can update your surgery info here: http://www.bariatricpal.com/index.php?app=core&module=usercp&tab=surgeons

This issue should now be resolved.

Thanks for reporting this issue. We'll have this resolved shortly.

Dr. Christopher Reilly is a pretty popular weight loss surgeon. He has quite a few members listed as patients on his surgeon profile. I'd PM a few to connect with them.

I know this is an old post but.....I've added a new forum called: "Fan Forum: for WLS Family and Friends!" Not sure I'm in love with the forum name. I'm open to other suggestions. This new forum is specifically for spouses, other family members, and close friends of weight loss surgery patients. Unconditional love and support get WLS patients through their journeys, and close family and friends are the main sources for many WLS patients.

I've added a new forum called: "Fan Forum: for WLS Family and Friends!" Not sure I'm in love with the forum name. I'm open to other suggestions. This new forum is specifically for spouses, other family members, and close friends of weight loss surgery patients. Unconditional love and support get WLS patients through their journeys, and close family and friends are the main sources for many WLS patients.

I've added a new forum called: "Fan Forum: for WLS Family and Friends!" Not sure I'm in love with the forum name. I'm open to other suggestions. This new forum is specifically for spouses, other family members, and close friends of weight loss surgery patients. Unconditional love and support get WLS patients through their journeys, and close family and friends are the main sources for many WLS patients.

I've added a new forum called: "Fan Forum: for WLS Family and Friends!" Not sure I'm in love with the forum name. I'm open to other suggestions. This new forum is specifically for spouses, other family members, and close friends of weight loss surgery patients. Unconditional love and support get WLS patients through their journeys, and close family and friends are the main sources for many WLS patients.

Welcome to the Fan Forum: for WLS Family and Friends! This is the space in BariatricPal that is specifically for spouses, other family members, and close friends of weight loss surgery patients. Unconditional love and support get WLS patients through their journeys, and close family and friends are the main sources for many WLS patients. I introduced this forum to welcome all WLS supporters and give you the support you need to keep being strong for your own WLS patient. This forum is for family members and friends of WLS patients. I also encourage potential and post-op WLS patients to post here. You can provide first-hand advice on how to be a more effective supporter. These are some of the suggested topics for this forum. What are the most important steps you can take to support someone who is preparing for weight loss surgery or who is following the weight loss surgery diet? When do WLS patients want your input, and when do they want you to be a silent supporter? What you need to know to know about the weight loss surgery diet and lifestyle to be able to encourage the best choices. Where can you go for more information? Taking a break from being the strong one…because sometimes supporters need to be supported. What to do when you need a little attention instead of focusing completely on your loved one’s weight loss all the time How can you prevent frustration with the new lifestyle? You support your loved one’s efforts, but you have made your own sacrifices, such as spending less time with your spouse because he or she needs to exercise, or giving up your favorite foods because they are no longer allowed in the house. Enjoy the forum! I hope it helps us all become better aware of each others’ needs and ultimately helps us all become healthier.

I agree that revising from one surgery to another can be quite difficult. You really need a master surgeon when dealing with a revision to DS. Once the surgeon completes the revision, you're left with a DS. Technically your first surgery was an RNY and you revised to a DS. Please correct me if I'm not understanding you. I'm familiar with all the surgeons on your list. They're the best of the best when it comes to DS.

Most overweight people face bias against their weights the entire time they are overweight. As an overweight school child: your classmates probably teased or shunned you. As an obese college student: you might have skipped group activities because you were not invited or you knew you would be mocked. As an obese adult: getting a job was probably more challenging, and you are probably judged daily at work and everywhere you go. Without a doubt, obesity is stigmatized. The unfair bias that you face may be a major factor in your decision to consider or get weight loss surgery. Unfortunately, you will probably find that the obesity discrimination continues even as you try to use weight loss surgery to get healthy. Obese patients are blamed for their conditions, healthcare providers are not always sympathetic, and coverage for weight loss surgery is not guaranteed. Why Do Obese Patients Get So Much Blame? People are increasingly sympathetic to diseases that used to be stigmatized. Examples include cancer, many mental health conditions, and sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS and syphilis. Now, treatment for these and other conditions, such as diabetes, is widely accepted as normal and an entitlement. Each of these conditions is largely the result of lifestyle choices, such as diet, use of tobacco and/or alcohol, sexual behavior, and physical activity levels. More than 80% of cancers are likely the result of lifestyle choices. Ironically, though, many people in our society remain unsympathetic to obese people. They are quick to blame obese people for having no self-control, for refusing to follow a diet, and for not wanting to be healthy. You know, though, that those accusations are far from the truth. If you are considering weight loss surgery, you are confident that you have the self-control for the weight loss surgery diet, that you have tried to follow numerous diets but none have worked for you, and that you desperately want to be healthy! You Did Not Ask to Be Obese: Some Factors are Outside of Your Control More than one-third of American adults are obese, and another third are overweight. That in itself should remind you – and the people who judge you harshly – that fighting obesity is hard! The food environment includes fast food, vending machines, restaurants, food-focused social gatherings, and inexpensive snack foods. There are also biological and family factors that you cannot control. Skinny people have no idea that you may be feeling extreme hunger all day, every day, or that your metabolism may be slower. Your family might have raised to choose high-calorie, high-fat foods, or even driven you into unhealthy emotional eating. Research shows that some obese patients’ brains even respond differently to food compared to lower-weight individuals. Obese individuals, for example, tend to get less pleasure out of food, meaning they need to eat more to get satisfied. Furthermore, high-calorie foods like sugar can be addicting, leading to the same brain responses as cocaine does. But nobody blames cocaine addicts for their situations! Instead, they encourage counseling and intensive program to help them overcome their addictions, not punish them. Discrimination in Obesity Treatment: A Look at Weight Loss Surgery Versus Dialysis Just as unfair is the fact that the healthcare system continues the discrimination against obesity. Compare weight loss surgery as an obesity treatment with dialysis as a treatment for kidney failure (end-stage renal failure). Far from being blamed for their conditions, kidney failure patients who need dialysis are provided the respect that all people deserve and the medical care that they need. Dialysis patients of all ages in the United States are able to apply for Medicare, the government’s health insurance program normally reserved for older adults. Dialysis treatments can cost about $40,000 per year, not including This is not to mention human factors such as reduced quality of life (the vast majority of dialysis patients are too sick to work) and early death (the life expectancy of dialysis patients is about 5 years). In comparison, a typical weight loss surgery procedure in the United States can cost $20,000 to $40,000, although it can be less, and successful patients are healthier and have more energy than before surgery. The irony increases. The fact is that kidney failure usually results as a complication of type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure (hypertension). Both of these conditions are often caused by obesity; losing weight after weight loss surgery can prevent, eliminate, or reduce these conditions. In addition, it takes years for kidney failure to develop once you have high blood pressure or diabetes – years during which patients are likely to be on costly medications and inconvenient treatments. Targeting obesity through weight loss surgery could prevent cases of diabetes and high blood pressure, reduce their effects in people who already have them, and prevent kidney failure, the need for dialysis, and early death. Searching for Fairness in the Medical Treatment of Obesity Your first barrier in your path to weight loss surgery may be your primary care physican (PCP). Some PCPs do not know much about weight loss surgery, or may be against it because they think obesity is your fault. Some PCPs take a narrow view of obesity, and feel that the only way to lose weight is for patients to “decide they want it badly enough” and “just eat less.” You already know that doesn’t work, so don’t let your PCP discourage you from learning more weight loss surgery if you think it might be the solution to your obesity struggles. Insurance coverage has improved for obesity treatments, especially for weight loss surgery. Medicare and many private healthcare coverage plans cover weight loss surgery if you meet their predetermined weight and/or health criteria. Some private insurance companies, though, take a short-term view because they want to make profits within 3 years. Since most weight loss surgeries do not pay for themselves within 3 years, some private insurers do not cover weight loss surgery despite the likelihood that they would pay for themselves within 5 or 10 years, and in addition improve your health and quality of life. Chance of Reduced Discrimination in the Future? The majority of Americans believe that health insurance should cover weight loss surgery, in addition to other obesity treatments such as dietetic and mental health counseling. The Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”), though, is not the ultimate solution. In nearly half of states, obesity treatments are not required to be covered by plans sold on the health exchanges. This determination is based on the available competitive services in the region. Since the most obese states are the ones least likely to have competitive anti-obesity care, these states are also least likely to have obesity treatments covered under the Affordable Care Act. Overcome the Discrimination Discrimination is an unfair fact of life as an obese individual, and it unfortunately does not end when you decide to get healthy using weight loss surgery as a tool. These are some of the ways that you can keep going strong and overcome the barriers you encounter as you work to get healthy. You have the right to a second opinion if your primary care physician recommends against weight loss surgery but you would like to find out more. Do not take “no” for an answer from your insurance company if you know you are entitled to reimbursement for surgery. Do not listen to negative family members or friends who do not understand your obesity or interest in weight loss surgery. It is your life and health. Educate others as much as you can to try to reduce the discrimination. Chances are that they are only being discriminatory out of ignorance, not out of true mean-spiritedness. Like it or not, some discrimination remains as you go through your weight loss journey. You cannot prevent it, but you can change how you react to it. Expect it and respond as positively as you can, keeping your own health and goals in mind. Over time, as you and others prove that weight loss surgery can be a worthwhile treatment for obesity, discrimination by insurance companies, healthcare providers, and the public will decrease.

Fourth option added.

I'm lucky that my costs have decreased. I feel similarly and would have been ok with a slight increase, just for the sake of everyone having medical coverage. I'm going to add another option shortly, thanks!

It's a non-standard "Platinum Plus" plan from Metro Plus only available to NY'ers. Have you checked out the plans available to you in Texas ? You can check them out at HealthCare.gov .