Ok, so I'm on a Medicaid managed plan with united healthcare in NY. They mandate a 6 month preop diet. I started January, so my last weigh in is beginning of June, and I can probably be sleeved by July. My only issue is I have to re-certify for Medicaid in may. My husband recently got a new job and makes 4x his old salary so there is NO WAY we will be eligible for Medicaid again. I know there is a Family Health Plus policy that works on a sliding scale, so even if its not free we will still have coverage.

So my question is, does anyone have experience with this? Do they approve you fast enough that there isn't a gap in my insurance? I want this surgery soooo bad and I feel like I've done so much, I don't want my efforts to go to waste.

Sorry this is probably half vent, half advice. I'm just super frustrated and worried.

You can always continue your medicaid coverage with COBRA. They will usually let you continue your coverage if you pay the monthly premium out of pocket.

I know that it will usually be a lot like 4-600 a month. But just remember medicaid has some of the best coverage around. Usually very little to no out of pocket expenses. A wls will cost you what 12k in the usa , 5-6k in Mexico. Your main issue is to get the surgery & then you can swap to a different insurance.

I'm fairly certain ( like 45-50%) that medicaid is cobra eligible. But bc its intended for a certain group & you don't meet that criteria they may cut you off. Have you thought of switching now and using medicaid as a primary & the other insurance as a secondary?

Oh, and please be careful your new insurance has bariactric coverage, I'm having a hard time bc my insurance is looking like 6 months of nut classes & then 3 month wait just for initial surgeons meeting! I'd swap as I pay for my ins totally out of pocket but can't find a similarly priced plan w/ bariactric coverage.

Good luck!