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Hello everyone. I'm new here. I have a question for people who are being sleeved in Mexico. I'm concerned about post surgery care, for example if you spring a leak or something? Does your regular health insurance cover postsurgery care?

I have Blue Cross Blue Shield, which covers the surgery however my employer puts an exclusion on weight-loss surgery. I'm just wondering if I have to go through any extra hoops to make sure I get good care after I have the surgery in Mexico.

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Hey, I am not sleeved yet but I will say that you should call your insurance company back and ask. My employer excluded all weight loss surgery as well as any complications from weight loss surgery..

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i think you can check out seven corners insurance, they carry insurance, but its at a price

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i think you can check out seven corners insurance, they carry insurance, but its at a price

Thank you I will look into that depending on what my insurance company says. What about any followup visits, like to basically check on you... that falls under regular doctor visits, doesn't it? Not specifically post WLS care.

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Hey, I am not sleeved yet but I will say that you should call your insurance company back and ask. My employer excluded all weight loss surgery as well as any complications from weight loss surgery..

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Same here, LezzieLez. My school system covers absolutely nothing having to do with WLS. Worries me a little in case of complications. Just praying for zero complications.

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I have BCBS but didn't qualify for WLS. I called BCBS and found out that complications (with my policy) would be covered. My follow up care was also covered through regular PCP visits. My PCP is very supportive.

I would call and talk to your insurance to find out what is covered

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It's gonna depend on how your MD bills the services. If it's billed as something that falls under "weight loss" it could very well be denied by your insurance if it falls under the exclusion. You should be able to ask your insurance company for something in writing regarding what's specifically excluded. Some plans just exclude surgery, others could exclude anything related to weight loss altogether (which is really unfortunate).

As far as leaks, those complications usually are detected in the first few days, so by the time you come back to the US, you should be in the clear on that (barring some really unusual circumstance).

Hope this helps!

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My insurance does not cover WLS and that includes complications afterwards. My surgeon recommended a program called BLIS which offers supplemental insurance for bariatric patients. Not sure if it's just offered in my state (Oklahoma) or nationwide.

I haven't looked into it much but will after I get my surgery date. It's an extra expense, but maybe worth it just for the peace of mind.

Maybe your state has it or something similar.

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Thanks everyone. I've got a list of things to call BCBS about.

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    • Doughgurl

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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!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

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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.

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