Choosing Insurance plans is like choosing between syphilis and gonorrhea. They all stink !! With my insurance I was caught between a rock and a hard place. I didn't have enough co-morbidities, they require documentation of a 6 month diet, and I wasn't employed by the hospital for 24 consecutive months (another ridiculous requirement). Had I lost 20 pounds, my BMI would have been too low..... so I'm off to Mexico and paying cash.. HealthChoice and Orlando Health can just kiss my big fat healthy Butt. Having to wait another year and gain more weight would have made me a higher surgical risk. I guess they would have preferred I'd have had high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. Makes no sense.... maybe they hope you'll die before they have to approve a triple cardiac bypass. I'm a Nurse... they employ me to take care of their Patients. Their slogan is "Patient's First". You'd think they'd want their Nurses healthy and fit.... after all, we're supposed to be caregivers, teachers and role models. Health Insurance sucks.... and to think I have to prolong my retirement till I'm 65 to qualify for medicare. I wanted to retire at 62, but insurance and health care costs make that impossible. I feel like a hostage. Oh well..... thank God I've got the money to pay for my surgery, at least Orlando Health pays me well. Just one more rant, I promise... they also won't pay for cataract surgery till I'm too blind to read this post.

Choosing Insurance plans is like choosing between syphilis and gonorrhea. They all stink !! With my insurance I was caught between a rock and a hard place. I didn't have enough co-morbidities, they require documentation of a 6 month diet, and I wasn't employed by the hospital for 24 consecutive months (another ridiculous requirement). Had I lost 20 pounds, my BMI would have been too low..... so I'm off to Mexico and paying cash.. HealthChoice and Orlando Health can just kiss my big fat healthy Butt. Having to wait another year and gain more weight would have made me a higher surgical risk. I guess they would have preferred I'd have had high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. Makes no sense.... maybe they hope you'll die before they have to approve a triple cardiac bypass. I'm a Nurse... they employ me to take care of their Patients. Their slogan is "Patient's First". You'd think they'd want their Nurses healthy and fit.... after all, we're supposed to be caregivers, teachers and role models. Health Insurance sucks.... and to think I have to prolong my retirement till I'm 65 to qualify for medicare. I wanted to retire at 62, but insurance and health care costs make that impossible. I feel like a hostage. Oh well..... thank God I've got the money to pay for my surgery, at least Orlando Health pays me well. Just one more rant, I promise... they also won't pay for cataract surgery till I'm too blind to read this post.

I think there are lots of us who feel similarly about our insurance companies. My policy has a weight loss surgery exclusions, specifically. I imagine because it makes the whole policy less expensive. The logic escapes me, though, that they'd rather pay for high blood pressure care, Type II diabetes, sleep apnea, and other obesity related co-morbidities than WLS.

I had my surgery in Mexico in March and am so glad I did! It was one of the best decisions I've ever made for myself.

~Kat

Insurance companies are in business to make money, not to provide health care. I feel your pain. But seems there are excellent surgeons in Mexico. Wishing you a smooth surgery and recovery!

My doc said insurance companies protocol is "denial of care". That is their approach to patients. It does seem to be the standard instead of patient need or preventative care.

My insurance flat out excludes any weight loss treatments for any reason. Once I read that, I immediately started looking for self pay options and am pretty settled on Dr. Ortiz in Mexico. Not scheduled till Jan (that's the only time I can take that much time off work). I'm Actually relieved to not have to jump through all the insurance hoops and stress of possibly being denied even after doing their "dance". Instead, I am in charge of my own choices and I could put all my effort into researching what is best for ME , not what some stranger thinks is best. I figure I'll re-channel my grocery and restaurant bills to my credit card bills

Choosing Insurance plans is like choosing between syphilis and gonorrhea. They all stink !! With my insurance I was caught between a rock and a hard place. I didn't have enough co-morbidities' date=' they require documentation of a 6 month diet, and I wasn't employed by the hospital for 24 consecutive months (another ridiculous requirement). Had I lost 20 pounds, my BMI would have been too low..... so I'm off to Mexico and paying cash.. HealthChoice and Orlando Health can just kiss my big fat healthy Butt. Having to wait another year and gain more weight would have made me a higher surgical risk. I guess they would have preferred I'd have had high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. Makes no sense.... maybe they hope you'll die before they have to approve a triple cardiac bypass. I'm a Nurse... they employ me to take care of their Patients. Their slogan is "Patient's First". You'd think they'd want their Nurses healthy and fit.... after all, we're supposed to be caregivers, teachers and role models. Health Insurance sucks.... and to think I have to prolong my retirement till I'm 65 to qualify for medicare. I wanted to retire at 62, but insurance and health care costs make that impossible. I feel like a hostage. Oh well..... thank God I've got the money to pay for my surgery, at least Orlando Health pays me well. Just one more rant, I promise... they also won't pay for cataract surgery till I'm too blind to read this post.[/quote']

Your last sentence was too funny..stay safe to your trip to mexico.

Choosing Insurance plans is like choosing between syphilis and gonorrhea. They all stink !! With my insurance I was caught between a rock and a hard place. I didn't have enough co-morbidities, they require documentation of a 6 month diet, and I wasn't employed by the hospital for 24 consecutive months (another ridiculous requirement). Had I lost 20 pounds, my BMI would have been too low..... so I'm off to Mexico and paying cash.. HealthChoice and Orlando Health can just kiss my big fat healthy Butt. Having to wait another year and gain more weight would have made me a higher surgical risk. I guess they would have preferred I'd have had high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. Makes no sense.... maybe they hope you'll die before they have to approve a triple cardiac bypass. I'm a Nurse... they employ me to take care of their Patients. Their slogan is "Patient's First". You'd think they'd want their Nurses healthy and fit.... after all, we're supposed to be caregivers, teachers and role models. Health Insurance sucks.... and to think I have to prolong my retirement till I'm 65 to qualify for medicare. I wanted to retire at 62, but insurance and health care costs make that impossible. I feel like a hostage. Oh well..... thank God I've got the money to pay for my surgery, at least Orlando Health pays me well. Just one more rant, I promise... they also won't pay for cataract surgery till I'm too blind to read this post.

You are so right! insurance companies suck. Being self pay at least made it easier to get my sleeve. I figure my surgery will eventually pay for itself due to eating less and eating at home. I will also be spending less on medications for all of my many health problems which are disappearing! Good luck and best wishes to you as you start your journey!

I am also self-pay because my insurance doesn't cover WSG. U Amy are so right and so funny