Well after deciding to have this surgery. Going to the seminar and starting the paper work I found out that my employer has a exclusion policy on the Lap band surgery. I'm very upset right now :thumbup:. Now I'm going to have to find another way. I know there is no way I could pay for this on my own. What now.

If anyone can help or give me some advise please do.

Thanks

Kimberly :w00t:

I'm so sorry; that's one reason I always tell people to START with their insurance! :tongue:

Many surgeons have self pay options but if you aren't willing to finance the surgery, I think you may be out of luck until your insurance changes.

Monkey is right...........if there is a documented exclusion in the policy, then I'd say your only route would be self-pay. Check into financed options. And comparison shop as you would any other high cost item. Keeping in mind physician credentials. etc..........cost isn't everything.

Well I went to my HR person at work about this issue. She told me to get a list of diets I have tried and a list of facts and she will help me write a letter to the head of my company about the lap band. So there is still hope.:thumbup: If all you guys could put a little prayer in for me I would appreciate it so much.

Have a great day

Kimberly

Hope it works out for you!

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They are going to lift the exclusion policy for me. I'm so excited. All I have to do now is get my insurance to approve it. So I'm calling my doctor tomorrow and getting my 6 month diet started. I already have an appointment for the education class for next week. WooooHooo I'm on my way.:cursing::thumbup:

Well congratulations! I am totally impressed that you stood up for yourself. I probably would not have even tried. That is cool

I discovered the same thing just today after a year of preparation and jumping through the insuance co. (BCBSIL) hoops, being initially denied because of Weight Watchers documentation, and appealing. I call every day to check the status of my appeal, send in the "additional information" they request and play all their games. Just today they said that I am denied because my employer, United Airlines, has exempted WLS from their policy. This was NEVER mentioned by either BCBSIL or UAL in all my conversations with them, but they say it's in the full text benefits summary, which nobody ever gets a copy of. The exclusion is not refered to anywhere online with either UAL or BCBSIL. There was another UAL/BCBSIL person on this site approved in 12/08 so this change can't be very old. Time for outside help, I think.

Gonefishin I'm sorry to hear about your battle. They should have told you this up front. Luckly they told me the first time I called. Try going to your HR person and see if they can help you. I have a great HR person who helped me. All we did was I got together some facts about the Lap-Band(I have done a lot of research) and put it together with a letter of why I would benefit from the surgery. It took awhile to hear back but it helped.

Good Luck and I will put in a prayer for you.

Kimberly

Kimberly, I know and have faith in the power of prayer. Thank you for invoking it upon me. It will all work out according to HIS plan. Dan.