I am a 21yrs old and I have been struggling with my weight since I was in elementary. Since I was young enough to take medication for adhd I have. And in the 5th grade my mom took me off the medication. I was very skinny up until then. That summer I gained at least 50lbs. About 4 years ago I lost 90 lbs, but I did it in the worst way possible. I was 220lbs. I gained most of that back, of coarse. I am now 211 and I am thinking about getting the surgery done. I am not sure if my age has an effect on this or not. I really wish it didn't but I'm not sure. I have a bmi of 37.2 but no blood pressure or diabetes that I know of. I'm not sure when the last time I got checked was. I am under a health insurance called Unitedhealth care. Does anyone know if they cover this surgery, and if they do what the exceptions have to be in order for them to cover it? Please help me! LADWANA

I hope you are able to make the best decision for you. You are in the right place to get information about the sleeve! As for me, I had no current health reasons for the sleeve, but knew there would be problems in the future.

im young but i feel like i could have problems in the future as well if not already. High blood pressure runs in the family. :/

This is, in fact, the best place to do some research. There are a lot of people here to help you decide. Ultimately this decision is yours. No one can make it for you. If you choose the sleeve, please remember it is a lifetime decision!

United HealthCare does cover the vertical sleeve but it has it where you have to have two comorbidities if your bmi is under 40 but if above 40 you do not. And my moms job has an age limitation of 21 but that just them. I'm 20 right now so they are playing hold out lol but the coordinator did say I could start my 6 months of supervised diet. I have a PDF about UHC/Bariatric Surgery policy if you want to read it.

Please! i want this so bad that if i have to gain weight i will! thank you!

https://www.unitedhealthcareonline.com/ccmcontent/ProviderII/UHC/en-US/Assets/ProviderStaticFiles/ProviderStaticFilesPdf/Tools%20and%20Resources/Policies%20and%20Protocols/Medical%20Policies/Medical%20Policies/Bariatric_Surgery.pdf

I hope this link works

LaDwana, you're case has me quite torn, firstly the most common regret you'll see on this forum is " I wish I would have done it sooner". But on the other hand I've really got to say most 21 year olds just aren't ready for this yet. This is a decision that is going to change the rest of your life.

IMO, this surgery works best when you you've tried everything else and know that this is something you need.

This is going to affect your social life. You are going to be uncomfortable in some situations because of it. Chances are, at 21 this will probably be the hardest thing you've ever done.

I'm not saying that it is a bad idea, I'm overjoyed that I did it. What I am saying is WLS is a last resort. If you can do it another way please do. If all else has already failed, welcome aboard.

Please! i want this so bad that if i have to gain weight i will! thank you!

Please check your own policy, providers have different policies, and ome employers will make WLS a specific exemption to reduce the price of their insurance.

so the pdf said i am in the zone but i need at least 1 problem.

mksy. thank yall so much! I have gone to great lengths to loose weight. and i may be young but i knew i was truly hayy when i lost a lot of weight. but i didnt do it the right way. i have always been active and worked out for at least 3 times a week but it never helped me loose weight. it would just keep my weight the same. and when i would stop is when i would gain tons of weight. and i still am gaining lots of weight. it has been worse and more rappid weight gain than i have ever had. i know i will be truly happy when i get this done. and trust me, im scared s***less. but from alk the research i have been dong i know its the right path for me!

I really hope you make the right choice for you and when you call your health insurance just say your bmi is 40 for now.. It sucks that you might have to gain 20lbs

I know we are young but I've done many diets and I know I need this tool. Plus I'm not living life. This is a serious decision that I'm not making lightly. I understand how drastic my life will be changed, I understand complications and I understand there is still so much I'm not going to be ready for but is anyone really ever ready?

im def getting this done if im approved! already spent a lot of time thinking about it.

when i lost weight i was small. i was 135 so going from skinny back to fat and finding out im concidered obese was def an eye opener and the fact the i have been obese before my weight loss. being that small changed me. and i have changed so drastically sense i gained it all back.

I had to respond to a former poster ... I don't think age has a whole lot to do w if you should get sleeve or not cause you have ppl in there 30s 40etc not following rules and other things w the sleeve .. Yes ppl are rt it will probably effect your social life but being over weight does the same thing so I say if you are mature and you have a big support system go for what you kno .. U have one life and only you can live it no one person is the same ... I'm cheering you on ... Like some one else said just educate your self