Hi, my current insurance doesn't cover the sleeve and I'm considering Mexico. I'd like to try one more thing: buying a second insurance policy that does cover the procedure.

The only problem is that I don't know who does or doesn't cover it. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Which insurance companies should I check out? Thank you!!

I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield Empire PPO. We're under the police insurance - but I know a lot of the BC/BS plans cover it. Good luck!

I had United Health Care - Oxford, when I had mine. They ask for a lot of proof that you really medically need the surgery, as nothing else has work for you, but once you give it to them, they approve it, good luck

Cigna

Healthlink /GEHA

i have united health care caremark and medicaid dont know if your state medicaid allows for bariatric surgery every state is diffrent but in Maryland they do as long as you meet the criteria also united healthcare for me required that i be insured with them for a year before they would cover surgery just as a heads up

It's not so much which insurance companies cover it, as which plan includes it. Each insurance company offers dozens to hundreds of different plans, some for individual purchase and some for employers. When employers purchase a group plan, they have to affirmatively include a special rider for bariatric surgery coverage. So my employer offers plans through Cigna and Blue Cross that do cover bariatric surgery. Someone else I know works for a different company with a Cigna plan that does not include bariatric surgery. Most plans for individual sale do not include bariatric surgery. I think your best bet is to work with an insurance agent and tell him/her up front exactly what you are looking for. Make sure you see the plan documents (member benefit handbook etc.) up front before purchasing so that you can see for yourself whether weight loss surgery is included, what the requirements are for approval, and whether there is a waiting period.

If you purchase insurance through a government exchange, some states require that bariatric surgery be included. However, I see you are in Alabama, and Alabama is not one of those states as far as I can determine.

http://www.bariatric-surgery-source.com/obamacare-weight-loss-surgery.html

Good luck!

Kaiser covers it for all, from what I understand.

Omni care

It's not so much which insurance companies cover it, as which plan includes it. Each insurance company offers dozens to hundreds of different plans, some for individual purchase and some for employers. When employers purchase a group plan, they have to affirmatively include a special rider for bariatric surgery coverage. So my employer offers plans through Cigna and Blue Cross that do cover bariatric surgery. Someone else I know works for a different company with a Cigna plan that does not include bariatric surgery. Most plans for individual sale do not include bariatric surgery. I think your best bet is to work with an insurance agent and tell him/her up front exactly what you are looking for. Make sure you see the plan documents (member benefit handbook etc.) up front before purchasing so that you can see for yourself whether weight loss surgery is included, what the requirements are for approval, and whether there is a waiting period.

If you purchase insurance through a government exchange, some states require that bariatric surgery be included. However, I see you are in Alabama, and Alabama is not one of those states as far as I can determine.

http://www.bariatric-surgery-source.com/obamacare-weight-loss-surgery.html

Good luck!

That was very helpful. Thank you! I'm in Louisiana, though, not Alabama. But still, I understand what you're saying. Thanks again!

Not to hijack the thread, but for those who have United healthcare, what do you think of it? My employer is going to united after being with cigna for as long as I've been employed here.

United Healthcare it's not bad, I had access to good hospitals/doctors, but, very high co-pays :/

Anthem BC/BS. My husband works there so we have an employee plan. I didn't have any insurance requirements other than to provide info on my past dieting experiences.

GHI/Blue Cross NYC

I have Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of Massachusetts. They covered mine!

Medicare covers if anyone is on there