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I was approved for bi-pass, no lap-band


Guest batman362
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Guest batman362

i was just informed by my insurance co. HAP( Health alliance plan of mich). that i am approved for a by- pass. I meet all the criteria, but they do not cover lap-bands. Why i asked. Because we don't! I pressed on for a reason and i got they don't work as well and we get better results with the bi-pass. Obviously the feel that obese people are not informed enough and too stupid to make an informed decision. I have to write an appeal and as far as i know, no one has gotten a lap-band from HAP. most other insurance companies in MIch are paying for them but Hap won't. What can I do. I'm not going to Mexico. I can't afford that either. any suggestions, like a good lawyer? cheap

thank you Bats

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This might not help, but I could not afford a band either. But my husband told me that I was always good at getting new credit cards. We were way in debt, but I tried anyway and the credit union approved me for another $8,000. It sounds insane to accept that loan, but my band is paying for itself. If the credit union refused me, I'd have written checks in advance to a bunch of cheesy quick-cash places. I'd have pawned all my jewelry, cashed in all my change. I was dying. There was no choice.

In order to pay for my band I made a couple sacrifices. I used to get manicures 2ce a month. No more. And I cancelled our Arrowhead Water delivery and bought a $20.00 Britta filter.

My food bill is crazy now. I don't pick out anything for myself. My meals are whatever food my husband doesn't finish. I was spending tons on Taco Bell, Jack in The Box, etc. Fast food 5-10 times a week. Now fast food sounds gross to me. After the surgery all I wanted was liquids cuz I was afraid to eat anything else. Once they allowed me real foods, my body craved healthy stuff. Like my body knows it needs Protein. I was craving tomatoes and asparagus.

My credit card payment is $130.00 a month. I found ways to come up with the cash. It's worth every red cent.

I have dual coverage. I have Blue Shield through my work and Health Plan of Nevada through my husband's. Both approved the bypass, neither approved the band. I could have appealed it, but I wanted to start living right this second. Screw the insurance companies. As far as this new debt, hell, the credit union shouldn't have given me the money cuz I was behind on my mortgage with them, so let them try to repo my band!

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
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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. 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.

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        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.

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

    • CaseyP1011

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