Regarding: HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY?

Yep, so far... I have not regretted a penny of it!!

I feel like a million bucks - I know I am way much healthier and have a much better attitude!

First I had an HMO and it paid most of everything. Then I switched to a PPO and now I have to pay around 82.00 each fill. All together so far after 3 fills, I have paid a little over $1000.00US dollars out of pocket.:thumbup:

I've paid $0. I have Tricare Prime and they are paying for everything, the only thing out of pocket I've paid for is my gas to get there, and the food I'll need after surgery (if that even counts, lol). Tricare has paid for my consult, psychologist eval, nutritionist eval, physical therapist eval, the upcoming surgery, already approved fills, and a revision if necessary. I LOVE Tricare!!!!

We have Aetna insurance. Our plan stopped covering weight loss surgery about 6 months before I decided to do it. I paid $16,500. So far, worth every penny. I put it on a 0% interest credit card then when that expired I transfered the balance to another 0% interest card. Just made my last payment.

Company does not have bariatric surgery as part of insurance package. I paid:

$9950 for surgery and three months of fills (which could be three fills if I can time them right). Additional fills are $15 (plus my travel).

$1000 incidentals (3 days missed work, travel across state, 5 days hotel, 5 days dog boarding)

Travel for fills will cost between $200 and $500 (but could be combined with some R&R).

All tolled, I'm thinking this will run $13,000 in the end.

I didn't pay very much - just my program fee (300.00 I think) and some copays. There were some preop tests that my insurance wasnt going to cover but since I was a student when I was banded I made less than a certain amount that year, which entitles me to some kind of thing where all my preop testing stuff gets paid for. I'm so glad I wasn't really working while I was a student lol and I'm glad I got the band while I was a student. Thank goodness my insurance covered the procedure - otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get it done (I have enough student loans as it is). And I wasn't interested in going to Mexico to have it done (under any circumstances).

I paid 11,000 and insurance paid 5,000.

I have what I thought was excellent insurance. I was wrong. We pay nearly $1200 per month for our premiums for our family. Still, the company (Rocky Mountain Health Plans) has a complete exclusion for any kind of WLS. So I could not even try. (And forget about switching insurance companies, because I have developed hypertension, so I am now marked with a "pre-existing condition" --- ie, will be denied if I apply anywhere else).

I am paying $9900 out of pocket for Dr. Brown in Denver, which is reasonable I guess, but as far as I am concerned, paying as much as we do already for health insurance, it is just shameful that NONE of this is covered. It is nothing more than a $9900 "tax" in my view.

This is a great example of how insurance companies routinely "ration" health care. What else would you call it?

I voted and paid $12,999 and it's worth ever penny!

Yeah I paid about 15,000 on a low BMI study and I only lost 35 - 40 lbs so far (banded in Dec 08) but I too think it was worth every penny. Turning 50 and being 25 lbs healthier than I was only a few months ago was very worth it and to be free of my food addiction is liberating. I used to :thumbup:I never thought anything would free me from the cycle. I am grateful for the Lap band. It is not easy tho....I do get stuck...have to throw up...but I will learn the right thing to do in stages.

All the best to everyone who needs this gift!

mar

I went through the second round of appeals with my plan and got it approved after the deed was done. They paid all but $4650 of it since it was out of network, so I am being reimbursed for the $11,250 they have approved. I am thrilled - needless to say!

I could give an argument for any plan that does not cover WLS. When other methods haven't worked, and in this day and age of "wellness" and "preventative" benefits, not covering WLS seems counterintuitive. I mean, if you can eliminate or reduce the need for hypertension meds, cholesterol meds, diabetes supplies & meds, lower the risk of heart disease, PAD, "female issues", not to mention joint replacements and the psychological issues that are prevalent - in the long run it makes much more sense for a plan to cover WLS than not. I know I got off on a tangent here, but it just kind of feels like getting kicked in the gut when something that can have such a drastic effect on our health isn't covered under the plan because it's not a "core" or statuatory benefit. I actually had a benefits broker try and push his agenda against WLS at me - I was less than impressed. He should have known his audience.

I paid 18,000 out of pocket, no insurance.

I paid around $1500, the first 90 days post op fills and all included. Now its about $200 a fill. I am glad that doesn't have to happen very often! But will pay it in an instant, I Love My Band!!!!!!

I have BC/BS of IL. They totally suck :thumbup: I ended up paying about 9K out of pocket, after they denied me. I would pay it again in a heartbeat.

I had to pay $9,900 the first time Doctor laker did my surgery, then when he punctured the tubing I had to pay $11,387.27 for the second surgery for a new port!