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I wrote a letter to my insurance company...and basically all they told me was that they didnt cover the procedure :help: So now i bacially kinda stuck......I really dont know where to go from here...I havent been to a doctor yet....im really kind of embarassed I guess....I never ever really though people thought of me as being fat. But I know I am I cant oblviously lie to myself ;) Im not really sure how to handle the insurance company either because I know im not going to get approved for a loan....Im pretty much lost.....if anyone has any thoughts prayers anything please write back........lost and discouraged

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I wrote a letter to my insurance company...and basically all they told me was that they didnt cover the procedure :help: So now i bacially kinda stuck......I really dont know where to go from here...I havent been to a doctor yet....im really kind of embarassed I guess....I never ever really though people thought of me as being fat. But I know I am I cant oblviously lie to myself ;) Im not really sure how to handle the insurance company either because I know im not going to get approved for a loan....Im pretty much lost.....if anyone has any thoughts prayers anything please write back........lost and discouraged

What insurance do you have? Do you have a copy of your benefits/coverage manual? I'm just asking b/c sometimes the insurance co reps don't know what they're talking about...

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You can call your insurance and they have to send you a copy at your request. Basically, it they exclude the proceedure, there is not much you can do but appeal. I had an exclusion, and got sick of fighting, so I am going to Mexico to have it done. Do you have a 401K or 403B? If you do, you can borrow the money from the account and pay it back. That is what I am doing. Don't give up on the insurance yet. Look into it and ask them to send you in writing a letter why they aren't going to cover you. That will give you grounds to start an appeal.

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Unfortunately, I have to agree w/Isabelle. If they don't cover it, then you can try to appeal it, or self-pay.

Sorry!

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chimboree is right, MANY of the reps at the insurance company don't know what they're talking about! I ask my husbands benefits rep in HR if WLS was covered, she said "Yes, when medically necessary". So, I called the insurance company and asked if the surgeon I wanted was in their network, they said "he is, but we don't cover any weight loss treatment". I said, "look again, because I have it in writing from the HR benefits department that it IS covered!" She put me on hold, and came back and apologized because it IS covered. So, I'd contact your HR department and ask the benefits rep there, he/she will know if its an exclusion or inclusion in your policy. Keep your chin up! It's a lot of leg work, but anything worth having is worth working for. :(

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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!
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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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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