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What To Do When Your Insurance Has A Waiting Period For Lap Band Surgery?



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I have BCBSDE and since I did not have medical insurance from Feb 11-July 11 I have to wait 1 yr for the insurance to cover anything bariatric! What is that all about? BLUE CROSS paid to have the surgery done back in 09 and now they will not cover anything because I had a laps in coverage? Really who can afford the Cobra that is offered to you between jobs?

I wonder if anyone has any ideas as to what I can do. I need to have my band looked at and can not afford any kind of medical expenses right now...I have had my band for a bit over 2yrs and when I moved up here to Jersey I got a fill and it was too tight. Now he did back out some Fluid and it was all good.

As of late I have been having a problem with major phlegm due to a bad head cold I had a couple weeks back. I cough a lot too, as it seems I can not shake it! The cough is deep and makes my throat hurt not like sore red kind of hurt but strain kind of hurt. I feel as if I have a clog in my band or that something might be wrong with the band. Sometimes I get a bit of what feels like heartburn. I get so freaked out but it has been over a year since I had my last barium xray to ck on the band so I am scared.

I can NOT afford hospital bills right now and I just do not know what to do..

Any input you have to offer will be a blessing..

Thanks

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So sorry you are going through this not sure what to do bit hang in there. If you have pain you should see Dr your health is most important

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I have been in your shoes, and had to wait with a empty band..

As a result I gained almost all my weight back.

If you have a problem, call your Dr., and explain that you don't have the money, and the problem with the Ins..

Then see if there Ins. people can help, or strike up a payment plan. Also, for Christmas, you might want to explain the situation, and maybe some family members can pitch in, and help out.

If you need Fills, you can contact Fill Center U.S.A., and just pay cash, or throw it on a card.

I know this is not what you want to hear, but don't let it slide, it's not worth it.

Wishing you Luck, Shirley.

I just caught the last paragraph. You can go to a E.R. that handles Bariatrics for help.

But, check if your Ins. will cover the E.R. visit for being sick where it is interfering with the Band.

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Check with your insurance and see if they will cover an emergency situation with your band, not routine stuff. Or go to your primary doc for the cough and see of he can order tests to check the cough that can also check on the band at the same time.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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