I'm saddened by all the stories and posts I read about the difficulty you all have. In Australia its so much easier. All insurance companies cover the surgery, you just need to make sure the level you are paying for includes it.

We also have medicare, which is a part government payment. To get the part government payment all you need is for your GP to write a referral letter to the surgeon of your choice. To get the insurance payment you simply need to wait their waiting period - 12 months. And that's it. As long as your GP says you need it and the surgeon agrees, you can go ahead.

After 12 months paying health insurance, I am looking at paying between $2,000-$4,000 for the operation.

Michelle

In some ways were are very lucky in this country and in others, we are not. I believe that some insurance companies in the States will cover plastic/recontructive surgery, but no insurance companies will here in Australia (please correct me if I am wrong!). If you have a medical reason for needing the plastics, then medicare will cover part of the cost.

So while part of the journey to a "new you" with the lapband is covered by insurance if you're with the right insurance company, once you get to goal and want to look the way you think you deserve to after your months of hard work, its $10,000 + to get that body.

Thats the bit that no one really talks about. And I wish I'd been better prepared (info wise) for when this time came (I would have started saving back when I was banded in Nov 06).

Just my 2 cents....

Nope, you're right, no insurance company will pay for cosmetic surgery (which is what this is classed as). They will pay for plastic surgery, which is re-constructive, say after an accident, getting a hair-lip removed, things like that.

I am not 100% sure but I think there is a chance that cosmetic surgery can be covered in Australia if the surgeon is also doing another procedure at the same time. I have very bad scarring (internally and externally) from liver surgery a couple of years ago and one surgeon has suggested that I wait to get it fixed until I am close to my goal weight as he can remove some of the extra skin at the same time.

That's purely at doctor discretion and isn't actually covered. He'll just charge the extra time to medicare and not tell them it was for cosmetic surgery.