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Hey guys.... I'll make this as short as I can because I'm so ADD, LOL! Do any of you pay for your own insurance plan out of pocket? If so, did being obese cause you any problemswhen you bought your plan or attempted to buy your plan? Did any of you have it easy when buying your own policy being obese or overweight and also have an easy time getting approved for your band surgery? What companies did you attempt to get coverage under and failed/suceeded? What company did you choose? If you're in Texas, your input is even more valuable because I'm sure the differences in coverage varies by state. However, everyone's input is greatly appreciated!

The short story is.... I no longer have insurance through my employer and have no way to get it back right now. Which in regards to the lapband surgery, doesn't even matter anymore because my employer has a weight loss surgery exclusion written into the policy. So I can never get the surgery as long as I work for this company (Yes, I already tried to get them to waive that exclusion with no luck) I called United Healthcare the other day and they told me my height to weight ratio disqualifies me from being able to purchase an individual healthcare plan from them. Luckily I was able to get my 7 year old daughter a plan with them or Golden Rule (that's who their individual plans are written under). Does anyone out there happen to know some good insurance that isn't going to take my weight into consideration when trying to get a plan with them? If there are any, do you know if that certain company has a waiting period before you can make a claim for a surgery like LB? Thanks in advance!!!

I knew you'd hop in here, Wheetsin...LOL! I haven't had much time in the past few days due to a death in the family, but I'm up now and can't sleep so I figured I'd come in here and try to find some direction of some sort. That was just about what I figured. What insurance company would want to take on someone with immediate health risks. Yeah, I may not currently have any health problems related to my weight, but that doesnt mean I never will. My main issues are crackling knees, an achey back and just plain tired of looking at my lumpy butt in the mirror now. I guess I should just be considered lucky and join a gym...

Sweet! Thanks, Chrisann! I'll definitely check that out too :sneaky:

I just found out that my employer has extra requirements that require hypertention and or diabetes to get approved for lapband. The 2 HAVE to be uncontrolled meaning you have to be taking meds for the diseases AND they have to be NOT working!!! Those are my employers rules! My case handler I talked to at the doctor’s office talked to united healthcare and she said if my job didnt have those extra requirements I would've already been approved because my BMI is so high She told me to call HR and benefits and see if they can exclude me from the extra criteria because my BMI is so high. I can’t believe this crap! Also she said whatever we do, don't cancel the UHC insurance. It's supposedly the most bariatric friendly insurance. She said if we cancel and try to go individual using ANY insurance company, I will get denied because my health is so bad. If there is a slim chance of getting approved with any other insurance our premiums would be so high it wouldnt be worth it. My only hope is getting those requirements overturned with my job and or getting another job with UHC as their insurance that doesn’t have those extra stupid requirements. Just thought I’d share….I'm beyond FLAMING P*****!!!!

Thanks for the info Anna :sneaky: We're the plans you were looking at just supplemental or did you look into full insurance plans?

I contract at Microsoft as part of a project team for Xbox, but unfortunately it's not Microsoft that's providing my insurance. If they were, we SO wouldn't be having this conversation, lmao! The company that actually pays me is pretty huge. Our contractors make up about 75% of Microsoft's employees in the U.S.. So, your point earlier makes sense. My actual plan is to prepare myself on break enough to get hired at Microsoft permanently and have the best insurance plan I've ever seen...finger's crossed.... My employer offers 2 UHC plans. Both with the same "exclusions" or whatever. Our open enrollment is April, but so is the end of my contract...so it really doent matter if I cancel or not. I'll just be saving myself..get this...$600/mo for my last month employed there! I guess it's all the principle behind it.

Wheetsin- Thanks so much for the info...it does make a lot of sense. I know I was told that cancelling my employer offered insurance may not be a good idea, but luckily, I'm currently on a contract job. We're on contract for a year, off for 100 days and then hopefully back on after the break. I think on my break, I'll be looking for another job with another insurance plan that way....it seems like the only way around it.

Ok, WELL...it's official....my job completely denied my request to waive their special requirements...so I'm cancelling my insurance with them! Now I have another question.... I currently have UHC. If I cancel my current UHC plan, will I ever be able to purchase a UHC plan on my own and get approved for the band surgery? Is all of that null and void? Will I have to completely re-test again?? Initially UHC was going to approve me because of my BMI being so high (even though I had no co-morbidities), it's just my employer's extra rules that screwed me. Will they see all my previous claims for the testing/lab work that I've done and deny me because I look unhealthy now? If there's anyone out there that understands what I'm saying, please help...thanks in advance!!!!

My friend that was banded last August got stuck the other day. I can't remember what she was eating, but either way it got stuck, she panicked and made herself throw-up...the old-fashioned way...finger down the throat! I was so shocked that she had the courage to even attempt that....how bad can that be for you? I'm not banded yet...but it's just a curiosity...

I'm in a similar position with my employer. The entire time I thought it was UHC denying my surgery but it turns out they were denying it because of extra requirements my employer has. UHC was more than willing to pay for my surgery if my employer didn't have these extra requirements (hypertension and/or diabetes unable to be controlled by meds). So this whole week I've been dealing with the corporate office. The people I'm referred to are really nice and they keep escalating and escalating but heels seem to be dragging or the buck is just being passed around...but at least they haven't said no yet. to everyone here fighting for their right to live a healthier life!!!

Hey guys! I haven't seen (I may be blind) the group name for all the march people getting banded. I was just going to choose for myself but thought I'd post just in case other people wanted to be included in it too. I was thinking of: March Magnolias March Mimosas Marvelous Marchers Magnificent March Bandsters :tt2:

Quick question kinda off topic...do any of you guys know what kind of band Dr. Carter uses?

Thanks for kind words and reassurance! That's really sweet of you :shades_smile:....much luck to you on your journey too! I'll keep everyone posted as I hear more...

Not so sure about getting it directly on my butt cheek...why mess up a flawless butt, LOL! I'd definitely do it on my ankle or the inside of my left wrist (my non-hand shaking hand)...

That's good to hear! If you have UHC too, I'm pretty sure the case will be the same for me...but again...still waiting for my corporate office to approve me. Thanks for the info!:biggrin:

I'm also going thru Dr. Carter but I have'nt been banded yet...still fighting to get approved. I am curious though...does he find a way to charge your insurance for fills or are they out of pocket? I read everywhere that fills aren't covered by insurance and then I hear about someone's insurance getting billed for a fill. How do they do it? Also...I was initially going to AIGB in Hurst...they gave fills for free for a year...that was definitely cool but that doc wasn't in my network :biggrin: Anyone know?

Sheila~ Do you happen to know what plan you have thru UHC? Like...Choice or Choice Plus

I know thats gotta be super stressful.... Wanna know how I quit? I got the flu! I had the worst cough and I just absolutely couldn't smoke. By the time I got rid of the bug, it had been 2 weeks. So I just figured why not just quit... I wish you had more time and I'd say go sit in the doctor's office for a few hours...touch everything and maybe let someone cough in your face...LOL, just kidding, that's pretty gross...but you get what I'm saying. Good luck... I know you can do it!!!

I depends on if the exclusion is actually part of the UHC plan you have or if your employer made the rule....like mine.

As of Thursday my plea to waive these extra requirements went to the highest level of whatever part of the benefits department at my job...just waiting to get an answer back....fingers crossed!!! I'm surprised at the amount of support I'm getting from the people at corporate. Everyone is on my side...unfortunately I don't know where things stand with the people that matter...

My friend that was banded says her insurance charges $600 for fills :eek: Of course her insurance is awesome and pays it all, but just thought I'd share because it was freakin' outrageous!

Well, according to my doctors office, if my job didnt have these extra requirements, UHC was going to approve the surgery...which makes it ever MORE frustrating. I have a contact at corporate that I'm waiting for a call back from. I still have a feeling this is going to get dragged out all over the place....fingers crossed though!

Oh trust me! Every step of this mess will be documented here. I find the more I get into this lapband world the more unique my case seems to get...so I'll be sharin'!