When I think about the people that have been denied this life saving surgery by insurance I get so mad.

I have been sitting here searching on this site those of you who have had financing experience. And then I just thought, that is just not right, if a person has insurance this should be covered. I am covered by three insurances and feel like I am probably in for the fight of my life to get the Lap Band paid for.

It just shouldn't be this hard.

If I went to the ER right now with a blocked artery, they would do heart bypass no question asked. This surgery could help me avoid needing one. I could go on. I know all of you know this.

I just am really upset and I am just at the beginning of the process. The PCP hasn't even sent in the referral. His nurse wasn't real helpful. SO I can already tell I will have to fight this all the way. And you know when you are in pain and you don't feel well sometimes it is hard to fight.

But then I just looked at my little step son, he is nine, he has cerbral palsey, and he needs me. He just came over and gave me the biggest kiss and hug. I have to fight for him.

He needs me, as well as my older boys and I have a two step daughters and three step grandchildren. My boys haven't made me a grandma yet. I have to be around for that. SO fight I will.

And a lot of praying.

just needed to vent.

vicki in indy

I FOUGHT TO GET MY SURGERY APPROVED. I WAS DENIED ONCE. I GOT EXTREMLY SICK SO THEY DECIDED THAT I WOULD BE A GOOD CANADITE SINCE I WAS RUNNING UP TO MANY MEDICAL BILLS. THEY HAD TO RULE OUT THERE OPTIONS. KEEP FIGHTING. THATS WHAT I DID. :rambo :banana

Hi Vicki,

It sounds like you have great motivation to get through the insurance obstacles. Keep your cool, keep your correspondence, and most of all, keep going! I'm positive that the time will come when banding is accepted and becomes the preferred bariatric surgery.

Good luck!!

Good for you Vivki

I did not have theenergy to fight with my insurance comapny for months. I'd still be fighting them probably..5 months later

I would of not gotten approval due to the fact I had NO co morbitities with being overwieght. I basically was a healty fat person according to my PCP. He said I would pay hell trying to get approval since no high blood pressure, no sleep apnea, no diabetes, no joint pain or arthritis, no heart problems, no cholesterol problems just FAT!

5 months later after self paying I'm down over 50 lbs and have not one single regret that I had to self pay. I would do it again in a heartbeat, my surgoen is very well respected by other surgeons in the field of bariatrics through out the US and abroad he has preformed over 1500 band surgeries and his aftercare is phenomenal..I have been fortunate. Things are going well for me!

I wish you the best of Luck with your insurance companie(s)

I hope you dont have to fight too long!

Thank you all,

I hope I can keep the energy to go through all thier hoops.

If there was anyway, and believe me I have thought of all of them, to self pay, I would be on a plane to Mexico as soon as possible. But bad credit and some recent financial problems would keep us from getting approved for any type of loan. So Insurance is my only option.

I keep buying those lottery tickets. If I were to win that is the first thing I would do. Schedule Surgery.

Vicki in Indy

Vicki, I know it's very frustrating and tiring fighting with insurance carriers. In my case I had no other choices either--self-pay would have meant a trip to Mexico I couldn't take the time for and lots of debt I really didn't want to take on. That was plenty of motivation to keep on the insurance treadmill month after month.

I won! And you can too. And all that extra time gave me more time to read and think and really understand what banded life would be like for me. I don't regret any of it. Keep the faith, and let us know how you're doing!

I appealed and won mine too. It is doable. Best of luck to you!

Again I thank you for all your encouragement.

I have to fight for this. It could possibly be the most important fight of my life.

vicki in indy