:help: I currently have Tricare Prime but have the option of picking up a different insurance through my work as a Massachusetts State Employee. Are there any insurance companies you would recommend?

Thanks!

I would suggest you call each one of the options that you can take and ask for a copy of their weight loss surgery requirements. That way you know EXACTLY what YOUR policy will state. It is quite possible that two people can have the samne insurance company, but work for different employers and one person will have coverage for WLS and for the other it will be an exclusion because the rider wasn't purchased. You need to call the companies you can choose from, identify yourself as a MA state employee and ask if they cover adjustable gastric banding and what the specifics are, then as I said, have them mail it to you so you have it in writing. Also, if your insurance wonj't then change until a certain date, you need to ask the company you are calling if they anticipate any policy changes coming up.

For example, I chose to change my company because I new the one I was with didn't cover banding, so I called another one, and they did cover it. But I didnt ask about the requirements. As of Jan 1st, 2006 (the date my new policy went into effect) their requirements went from 6 month MD supervised diet, to a 12 month MD supervised diet. BIG difference. But I didn't think to ask...

Good luck!

FaithMD....

If you don't mind my asking... why did your insurance co deny your request???

I haven't submitted the request. However it is an exclusion under my current Tricare Insurance policy. They stopped covering the procedure in 2004 and it doesn’t look like anyone else in the forum has had any luck with Tricare. So ironic that I could have Gastric Bypass without a problem but not the LapBand.

Please let me know if you have any recommendations of insurances that have been easier than others to work with. I'm just starting the research process. I'll post what I find out.

Thanks!!!