I'm new to this forum and was hoping to get some advice. First, a little background.

I'm 35, Male, in Northern California, and I weigh nearly 600 lbs. I've tried numerous diets and programs before in my past, to no avail. I've also tried to get weight loss surgery before through my insurance provider, Kaiser Permanente, but I always struggled with their rigid pre-surgery requirements (namely, the weight loss. Isn't that why I need the help in the first place?). Now that I'm self-employed, I'm no longer stuck with Kaiser and can get any health insurance i want.

My question for you all is: Which insurance provider and/or surgeon/hospital would you recommend? A family member recommended I go PPO for my health insurance so I can go to any doctor I want, but I don't exactly know where to go.

I've always been big but I feel like I'm running out of time. I've become a shut-in because it's hard for me to get around, my friends call me out for always bailing, and I get really anxious in social situations. I really feel like losing the weight will help me out of this prison I'm in, and open the door to helping me get better.

Any and all advice you have to help me get started would be appreciated. Thank you.

I work at a company that is a small business and majority of health benefits for small do not cover bariatric. I cannot answer for self employed. My guess is, if you are going to pay 4 to 5 hundred in insurance premiums then i would just do self pay so you dont have to go through all the pre requirements. Also if you get on obama care it is not covered UNLESS you are in one of the 12 states where it is mandatory covered.

Good Luck on your Journey!

I'm self employed and purchased insurance through Kaiser in Washington State that covered WLS. I'm not sure how it is in California but the Kaiser bariatric program is top notch here in WA. Make sure whoever you go through has the accredited bariatric center of excellence rating. There's a lot of shady WLS mills out there. Good luck!

I would head for 1. Center of Excellence Hospital 2. a State land-Grant teaching hospital, they tend to be most up to date with every thing, every nuance, I went to Ohio State University- Wexner Medical Center in my state Capital of Columbus, I received surgery an RnY , at the age of 72 years 8 and half months, a struggle close to what you may encounter, it is n9t an easy task, my high weight was 365 pounds, I now am 100 pounds lighter at 267 pounds soaking wet, 5 months out from surgery, still more to lose but I Shall do it! I would never go back to the tired sick person in constant pain and sure that I would die that way, no siree! It is not a walk in the park, a real struggle but many many your size have found success, you have youth on your side, you're naturally more resilant than a Bariatric Grandmother like Me. Please search, find somewhere, a surgeon and program you can trust, before you develop body breakdowns you cannot come back from, yes most programs will say lose weight but the right people will help you, they won't let you just "swing in the breeze". My program has Bariatric Surgery and Metabolic Weight Loss as part of their title, they don't just slash people open, they work on ALL the facets of Weight Loss. If Kaiser Permanente isn't a fit, I'm sure there are others, California has many medical options of other plans! My own surgeon is chief of Bariatric Medecine but he also is a full professor in the College of Medicine , this is YOUR LIFE, search for the Very Best you can find. And you always have a friend in me for I do know about uphill battles, fought more than a few. You have desire, if you can summon up that much courage, you will succeed and I will celebrate with you as the pounds come off, Promise!