ok...so I started at Nordstrom yesterday. And they have Aetna PPO insurance. The HR manager is checking to see if they allow bariatric surgery. If they do...I am a shoe in. way over BMI of 40. Way over the 100 pounds over weight. A few comorbidities. No problem.

Dh's insurance is United Healthcare. Great right? No. All of their new policies they are sneaking in an exclusionary clause for no bariatric or nutrition coverage. So we are not covered.

So we have chosen to get my surgery with Dr. Sanchez in monterrey Mx. But now there is the possiblity that it will be covered.

Dr. Sanchez is an amazing doctor. He has done a lot of lap bands. (over 5k) And the hospital is a great american owned hospital in one of the most beauiful cities in Mexico.

What do I do? If I go with the insurance I can't even start the process until july 1st. There is a waiting period before the insurance kicks in. Do I go for the insurance covered surgery, wait the extra time? Is there anything I should do until then to help make the process go quickly after the insurance kicks in?

Or do I go with the years of exp and the many many lap bands under his belt, and the amazing hospital in the amazing city in mx?

To some this may be a no brainer on either side, but I am really stuck trying to figure this out. Thanks in advance.

You have waited this long, why not wait a little bit longer to see if you don't have to fork out all the moolah. Put the money into an interest account and make a few bucks on it while you wait. Mexico will always be an option for you.

GOOD LUCK!

Because this is not a race, I would strongly recommend waiting until you know about the insurance. The actualy banding is just the very first step of the journey. The aftercare is so critically important, and if you are baded with coverage, you will likely continute to have coverage, if something happens down the road.

I'm not looking for anything bad to happen, but it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Good luck in your decision. But I vote for waiting for your insureance.

And another suggestion if they do cover it under insurance, take that Mexico saved money and plan a fantastic vacation to an exotic place on your 1 year to show off your new bod!

LOL we talked about that. maybe a private island resort getaway. some nude sunbathing? LOL

Talked to Aetna today. I am definitely covered. I just need to get approved.

So I really need to know what sort of diet the doctor puts you on to become approved. I know it is a doctor supervised diet. Does that mean they are trying to get you to lose weight for the surgery? Or is it to see if I fail? And what is the diet your doctor put you on?? I want to know because my PCP is going to put me on what they want to see, and we will track it for the next few months.

Also, let me know what ever else the aetna people wnat to see. What were your experiences and hoops to jump through?

thanks!!