Finally, after 2 years, I will be banded June 2nd by Dr. Ortiz. :clap2: I started this journey near the end of 2004 at the University of Illinois hospital here in Chicago. I was close to getting a date in 2005 but my husband was laid off. We could have picked up COBRA insurance but this would have cost too much so I picked up my insurance at work. After all this time trying to get this procedure covered, I found out my policy from UHC did not cover this surgery. They specifically have an exclusion for surgery related to obesity including morbid obesity. I was so upset. I thought I would never get this done. My husband and I decided to just take out a home equity loan so I could pay for the procedure myself. This forum has been so great. I have been able to gain so many perspectives. The good, bad and the ugly. :evil: :angry I have been able to gain a realistic idea of what it is I am dealing with. It by no means is any miracle cure. It is going to take lots of work. I am willing and ready to do this.

Sorry to go on and on.

Congrats, Dawn!!

Woo Hoo Dawn!!!! Wishing you a safe journey to Bandland and please give us an update post-op when you're feeling up to it! COngrats!!!! :eek:

Dawn, congrats on getting a date, that is fabulous! I am so sorry you had such trouble with the insurance company. It seems so silly to me that so many of them exclude weight loss surgery, when by having it, you can prevent so many future health problems. Mine wouldn't cover either, and we refinanced our house to pay for it.

I know here in the Jacksonville area, my surgeon said none of the insurance companies will pay. He said they discussed it with Blue Cross/Blue Shield and they said the reason is because nowadays there is so much competition for health care. While a company may have BC/BS as their carrier this year, next year Aetna or some other company may offer them a better deal and they switch. So, he said they have found there really is no long term benefit in their covering weight loss surgery.