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BANDLANDIA APPLAUDS LAP-BAND REIMBURSEMENT

APPROVAL BY BLUE CROSS / BLUE SHIELD

Cynthia Jones, founder of Dallas-based Bandlandia, Inc. (www.Bandlandia.com) said today, “We are extremely pleased that Blue Cross / Blue Shield has approved Lap Band surgery for its patients. The lap band procedure is the least invasive and safest of all weight loss surgery options and we have been working towards this day for quite a long time. The Lap Band will save many lives among the Blue Cross / Blue Shield patients.”

Cynthia Jones, among the first U.S patients to have the lap band procedure, founded Bandlandia to offer after care options for those who have had the surgery.

Blue Cross / Blue Shield has approved the lap band procedure for the more than 6.8 million patients in Texas, Illinois and New Mexico. Blue Cross / Blue Shield will now provide medical coverage and reimbursements for implantation of the Lap Band System for the treatment of morbid obesity.

Inamed’s Lap Band System provides a life=saving option for the morbidly obese that is safer, less invasive and as effective in weight loss resolution or improvement of obesity-related health conditions as gastric bypass surgery.

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Guest ladylobo7

Can you tell me if Blue Cross/Blue Shield of FLORIDA covers the Lap-band Surgery? I can get a letter of medical necess. from my doctors due to my medical history, so that would not be a problem. Thanks!

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I believe they do. Remember, each insurance is different for each company. I would go to www.lap-band.com and find a surgeon locator. The surgeon's office should be able to tell you what your insurance can do!

Cynthia

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Guest ladylobo7

Thank you so very much! I was able to find 2 surgeons who do the banding not far from where I live and will be checking into the insurance coverage, a consultation/meetings next. I appreciate your reply. You have been a great help!

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Thanks, I too was able to find a surgeon via www.lap-band.com they emailed me a list of surgeons before I'd even completed the registration.

I've called Dr. Sidney Rohrscheib for information. Have any of you heard of him, or been a patient of his?

The receptionist I talked to seemed very nice, and answered most of my questions without hesitation.

My insurance bc/bs of IL wants 1 year of monthly md visits specifically for weight loss...out of my pocket of course. I've done the dr visits for diet, but they've all been a failure over the years, causing me to gain in the end. I've given up on that route long ago.

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Originally posted by Cynthia

I believe they do. Remember, each insurance is different for each company. I would go to www.lap-band.com and find a surgeon locator. The surgeon's office should be able to tell you what your insurance can do!

Cynthia

Bless your heart. Thanks to this site, I found a surgeon a lot closer to home! The other one I was considering was over 2 hours away from me, this one is only 45 minutes away. I really appreciate the link.

This site is terrific. I've never met so many wonderful, helpful, and supportive people in my life. Thanks, everyone.

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Glad I could help. The band was the best thing that ever happened to me and I think everyone should have one. Keep us posted on your progress. Where are you located and who is your new surgeon?

Cynthia

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Originally posted by Cynthia

BANDLANDIA APPLAUDS LAP-BAND REIMBURSEMENT

APPROVAL BY BLUE CROSS / BLUE SHIELD

Thanks Cynthia! This is good to know. My brother and his wife have BCBS and they were just asking about this last week.

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They'll still need to check with their particular policy. Our B/C has a specific exclusion for all WLS. Best of luck!

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  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
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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.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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