Darkkmocha

I see your post is rather old, but .....I am have surgery on 11/17/11 with a surgeon in GA. My BMI is 32.6, but I will also be self pay.

My BMI is 32.6 and I am hoping to get to a BMI of 25 or less. My surgery date is 11/17/11...........Glad to read your stories and hope my story will be encouraging for someone as well.

I am starting with a BMI of 32.6 and hope to get my BMI to 25 or below. Glad to hear its working for the lower BMIs as well.

Hi all. I have been thinking about this surgery for at least 3 years but couldn't find a surgeon to do it because my BMI was 31. Now my BMI is 32.9 and the FDA has lowered the BMI, I finally have a sugary date of 11/17/11. I started the process on 10/27/11, I am self pay, which means I avoided some of the red tape. Start my liquid diet tomorrow.

Hi. I am not sure what your BMI is, but mine is 32.6 and I will be having my surgery in Atlanta, Ga. FDA has approved lap band for BMI of 30 or more. Your insurance will only pay if your BMI is 35 or more. I will be self pay.

Good luck to you and Kudos for not giving up!

I am a RN as well. I work as the Director of Nursing ay an Assisted Living Facility. Marketers bring food, snacks, Starbucks etc...explains all my extra weight. I am still awaiting a surgery date, I am hopingbforbthe first or second week of Nov. I too, would love to be a skinny bi""h.

Congrats! Keep up the great work.

I am going to be self pay, using care credit. I am hoping to get my surgery first/second week of Nov. Cost will be 10,000 in Atlanta (river dale) GA.

I will be using care credit

You surgeon or hospital must be billing it incorrectly. If the diagnosis code and/or procedure codes are incorrect, that will make the claim deny.

Trac75 Good Luck & I wish you the best. Keep us informed. I am hoping to be able to get a surgery date for the first week of Nov.

Trac75 Do you have medical insurance? If yes, that why you were not offered the bliss insurance. If you don't have medical insurance you may want to inquire about the bliss insurance. Your medical insurance will cover any surgery or procedure that is considered medically necessary. It has nothing to do with if your lap band was covered or not. There is no gray area if you have complications from your lap band. The lap band itself is a gray area, that's why there is criteria (because it can be considered for cosmetic reasons). If you have band erosion, slippage, etc., nothing about that is cosmetic. You may have to enlighten your doctor office on billing with the correct diagnosis and procedure code if you develop complications. The risk for complication is low with lap banding. Anything is possible (even for simple dental surgery) but try to stay positive.

I am going to his seminar on Oct 27th. I hope to have my surgery within a month. I will be self pay so that should cut out a lot of the red tape. My BMI is 32.6 and I have high blood pressure. FDA has approved it but the my insurance company has not changed the criteria as of yet and it may take years.

I haven't had the surgery yet. Can you please share what you have been experiencing these past 8 weeks?

MilaV I cantnfigure out how to have a personal conversation with you.

I would not worry about the bliss insurance. I have worked for numerous insurance companies as a nurse consultant, if a surgery or procedure is medically necessary your insurance will cover it. It has nothing to do with the fact the original surgery was not covered.

Why Mexico. FDA had lowered the BMI in the USA and lots of surgeons are doing self pay for around 9 - 10,000 dollars, with a BMI of 30 or more.

My BMI is 32.6 and I am looking to have the lap band surgery. I have located a surgeon locally. I am going to a seminar on Oct 27, 2011 & I will start my journey from there. I know I will be self pay. I am a Registered Nurse and have done intensive research and I have decided this is the best option for me. Good luck to you ........

Good luck LBC. I am going to be self pay as well. My seminar is scheduled for Oct 27 & my psych evaluate is Oct 31. I hope I can have the sugary the first or second week of Nov.

My BMI is 32.6 and I am looking to have the lap band surgery. I have located a surgeon locally. I am going to a seminar on Oct 27, 2011 & I will start my journey from there. I know I will be self pay. I am a Registered Nurse and have done intensive research and I have decided this is the best option for me.

Thanks SkinnyMinniMe for the encouragement, it is MUCH NEEDED!

I just read over the coverage policy for Cigna, blood pressure has to be uncontrolled with optimal medical management and six months of supervised weight lost program. I would be a whole year trying to get approved and then I would probably have another medical issue by then. My right knee is already giving me trouble due to the extra added weight Appears that I will be self pay.....