I have been on here for a few months. I was told originally, back in July, that my insurance was going to pay for my surgery. After going through all of the classes and nutritionist appointments and psych appointments it was discovered two days before my scheduled surgery, two weeks ago, that my insurance had added an "exclusion" to my policy. There is now no way that insurance will cover any part of my surgery. The surgeon's office has been very sympathetic and has worked out a payment plan for me to self pay with five grand down and 300 a month. Do-able but difficult.

We are a barely middle-class family. I cashed out part of a 401K to get the cash and am charging some on my mother's credit card My final pre-op appointment is now on Monday and I will have to turn over all of the cash. I am thinking of all the other things I should spend this money on. Christmas mainly, or a vacation for the kids, paying down some credit, or the second car that could die anyday now. I am thinking of all the people i have known and heard about that have lost significant weight on their own. My sister, whom I am very close to, was never as heavy as I, she looks spectacular, and she never had to spend so much to get there.... maybe 50 bucks on work out tapes. Heck she sure could use this five thousand dollars that I am looking at.What if I spend all of this money and I still fail to lose the weight? I will feel so badly that I didn't use the money for something for the kids.

I have a condition that wears my kneecaps away gradually and have been told that I will need kneecap replacement eventually. I have been using that condition as my primary excuse for the surgery. Losing my extra weight is the best thing I could do for my knees. My BMI is 41. I am 35. I have 80 pounds to lose. If I made myself miserable for a year I could probably do it on my own, but I would probably gain it back. I am so tired of thinking about this. I am so tired of trying to decide what is the right thing to do. I am so tired of being overweight and tired. I am also tired of being broke and this money would give us a cushion for the next few months at least.....

I think if I had been told back in July that insurance would never cover surgery, I would never have considered it further. But now after immersing myself into the possibility, watching countless youtube videos, buying new size 8 jeans, and reading here, i have gotten excited about the prospect of really succeeding long term. Discovering two days before surgery that I needed to abandon the possibility forced me to figure out a way to self pay that i never would have even considered before. Should I just go back to that mindset and forget about it? Sometimes that seems like the smartest thing to do. Just scrap these last three months and go back to thinking it is not even an option.

Goodness, I sound like a rambling idiot. Sorry.

Wow..your insurance did that to you?right before surgery?I would be protesting this issue with your insurance company.Because of the fact that your procedure was already in motion.That is not right.So they ok'd it initially?

When anthem spoke to the consultant in July she was told it was a covered procedure. When it was submitted for approval the week before surgery they found the exclusion. I would have thought that it was a trick by the surgeons office to trick me into self pay if they had not bent ver backwards to lower the down payment and adjust the payment schedule for me. I really do think that it was a mistake on the part of the first anthem representative. I have spoken to several insurance reps and human resources and they all provide proof that it is excluded from my coverage. It super sucks but I have turned over the cash now. The decision is done...... Now I jus have to make this work. My goal is a water park with my boys next summer!

Sounds like that anthem rep was speaking generally vs about your llan specifically. Some plans cover it and some do not. Im so sorry for their lack of information upfront. At the same time im excited for you! Congrats on making your decision and trust me it will pay off.

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woohooooooo! Congradulations! Sandy

You and your health are worth every penny!