Cassiper

So since losing 65 pounds since surgery Sept 13 2022, people say you lost weight?Then if I say, yes I had sleeve surgery, they say stupid $h!t like, you could have lost it without having surgery…Well, if that was the case would I have been overweight for 18 years out of 36? Or you didn’t really need surgery… 🙄 Tell that to the three bottles of pressure pills, I was on and my blood pressure was still too high!
I don’t understand why people feel it’s their right to tell you their stance on YOUR body and YOUR health??! But, I don’t see a lot of judgement from people in my community when women go get bbl’s and Lipo. People REALLY think that they know what it’s like to be obese. They act like I cheated. My daughter who is 18, (away at school), said but you kinda did cheat! I said how is being nauseous every other day, taking Vitamins, not being able to eat anything I want and working out cheating? I said it was just a kickstart. She said well, she never really thought of it that way.
I think people think you go get bariatric surgery because they are lazy and want an easy way out. There is no easy way out of obesity. The surgery doesn’t change your mindset. You still battle with food at times. It’s like I want to do something to inform people that, just because your obese, that doesn’t mean your lazy. If you were dying and the doctors do a surgery to save your heart or kidneys, then does that mean you cheated? Bariatric surgery CAN and HAS saved peoples lives. Including mine! Why is it still such a stigma around it?!

@@Cassiper
I'm so sorry to hear about your situation.
Just a quick question. Can you afford financing the surgery?

Hey Cassiper.....
I did the same thing....I was told here in Oregon under the Oregon Health Plan if you have diabetes then you were eligable. Could this apply to you and Kentucky as well??? I found, again here in Oregon, the best care I could get was 5hours away. The medical center took cash, credit or they did finance as well. Shop around before you sign on the line. There are really good Doc's out there that can work with you. I had contemplated cashing out my IRA, financing, credit card, but I was lucky enough I had been hurt at work and had some settlement money that I paid for mine with. I see your BMI is about what mine was at, here's an idea: While you're working on getting your BMI down find an outpatient clinic that could do the surgery and check the costs...Then when I scheduled the seminar date, ask to also speak with the finance dept. and tell them that you would like to make regular payments BEFORE your surgery date. Then you have 2 goals to hit, your BMI and getting your bill down as far as you can till that date and then ask to finance the balance. Even if I was getting an unemployment check I would send a payment. I look at it like this: It's government money, let them pay for the surgery. I used some of my financial aid from school to help pay for mine. What can they do, it's your money....There are ways to get what you need if you really work it.....
Keep tryin, don't give up, this was just a minor set back....Getting my BMI down took me almost a year, seemed like forever but in that time I completely changed how I ate, shopped, read lables, worked some walking into the mix and I am sooooooo glad I had that time....Drop the sodas, drink the Water or teas or whatever.....Work on you for you....Basically get your ducks in a row before hand....
Good luck and hang in there if it's meant to be your path will be lit up.....
kim

I am sorry to hear that. You are not alone, my employer chooses to not cover it either.
I did decide to self-pay. A lot of people go to Mexico, I stayed in the US. I did go out of state 5.5 hours away to a doctor that does this out patient, plus surgery costs were cheaper than staying in state. I had a great experience!. I had to get a personal loan to pay for the surgery. I have seen others post about doctors in Texas mainly about that if you have a hiatal hernia you only have to pay the added cost of the gastrectomy, because the surgical costs of the hernia repair is already covered under your insurance plan. (surgical center, hospital stay, anesthesia, etc) My doctor said to me that pretty much everyone he does has a hiatal hernia. I am a lightweight at just a 35.6 BMI at surgery and I had one too.
Good luck, maybe your employer is large enough that they would be willing to take on the added cost to include it into the coverage. In the mean time... getting started on your medically documented weight loss prior to surgery is a good idea if you are holding out for insurance coverage.

I'm in Oregon and had the same issues. I have decided to self pay and have my surgery scheduled in Mexico at the end of Oct.

Hugs and I'm so sorry. I know how you feel. When I had united healthcare through my old employer they didn't offer it. Luckily for me my new job offers and covers it. Try looking into going to Mexico. I've heard and read lots of good things plus it's much cheaper than trying to pay out of pocket in the United States.

Per my Bariatric surgeon.... Obesity will soon be considered a "disease" in result requiring insurance companies to cover the surgery. I am not sure when this will change, but it's coming. ????