Hi, I am a 64 yr old female. Completely new to thinking about lap band surgery. I live in southern mass. I have no idea if any of this is covered by insurance. And if not what is the cost "out of pocket". I would like to start and figured I would look through your comments about your doctors and experiences. Thanks for any help and time. Nanaviv

Hi welcome to LBT

do a search on insurance im sure you will find alot of info there

i think self pay is anywhere between $10,000- $15,000 but i could be wrong

Welcome! Nice to meet you!

Thank you so much for answering. So far you are the only one that has. I have so many questions. Was recovery difficult? What is a fill? If insurance doesn't pay, how much would it cost? Where did you have yours? Is is working well? I don't know where to begin, and what doctor to choose. Also, I am 64. Everyone else is so much younger. Thanks for any help. Nanaviv

i havent actually been banded yet myself

i know a few ppl that have had it done and they take a few days to recover

A fill is the liquid they inject into the port to make the band loser or tighter, i think thats right

Do a search on fills any questions you have and it will bring all the info up you need

first you have to go to your gp and they will refer you to a specialist who does the band

hope this helps

Sorry, Nana. I would have responded to your questions, but I am not banded, yet, either. I can tell you that answers to most any question you might have are probably on the boards - you just have to search for them.

At the top of the page in the blue bar click on search and type in a word or two. That search will bring up numerous posts to choose from.

Also, the Main Forums page is a great place to start. Support & General Discussion are great - plus Insurance for some help there.

Welcome!

welcome nanviv, I'm also from ma. and have just started the insurance part of this wonderful life, I know that blue cross pays if you qualified I also know that the surgeon in my area said fees were in the neighborhood of $18,000. for everything including 3 fills if I remember right

Welcome nanviv, I was banded only 5 days ago but the recovery isn't too bad. I am returning to work on Monday, exactly one week after surgery. I am a teacher so my job requires me to be on my feet but isn't too physically exerting. My insurance paid for 70% of the fees. I think my out of pocket will be around $4,000. I saw a person around this website (or maybe at smartbandsters) who was 62 and had the surgery. Heck, you still have a few decades to live so I wouldn't think you would be too old for the surgery, if thats what you were implying. Many people get their surgery in Mexico and if you surf this site you can research commets, etc.

Your first step is to see your primary care doctor and talk to her or him about the idea and then just get on the internet and this site and research the heck out of the topic.

Best of luck

Darla

Hi tztmama, Good to hear from you. You didn't say where you are from. I will be looking for a doctor in the Boston area. Let us know how you are doing.

I live in San Diego, CA. I actually live in Chula Vista, a city at the southern part of San DIego.

I live about 5-10 minutes from the Tijuana border.

Lucky you. I am so nervous about starting. I wish I was at your stage. Good luck. Nanaviv

I am sooooooo happy to meet someone about my age. I'm 63 years old and going to have lap banding. Five years ago I had bypass surgery on my heart (thanks to a 2 pack a day smoking habit) and now I'm smoke free and I've gained 100 lbs. in 5 years. I'm not used to this extra weight and I hate it. It really got away from me. Now, my dr. thinks lap banding would be excellent for my heart and my sleep apnea. Medicare is now paying for lap banding. Did you know that? I'm on Medicare early because of my heart surgery and I don't know what age you have to be anymore to get it....67 maybe. I'm just thrilled they have decided to cover the surgery for "older" people and I say that with a smile because you are only as old as you feel. I feel great except for carrying around all these extra pounds. I have so many question...about the port? You can feel it? Does it hurt? Does it get infected? Can other people see it and know you had the surgery (or do they have to be really close up and personal to do that) in which case it wouldn't matter. My hubby is dead and there is just me and my little dog for company. I'm going to need friends to get through this I'm sure, but if you have had your chest cracked open I don't think you can experience much worse. I'm glad to see someone else is thinking about it and is over the age of 30.

Hi tomorrow's dream, I am happy to hear from you too. I will be 65 at the end of this year and will go on medicare then. I don't have as serious a problem as you do but I am starting to have trouble breathing and really bad acid reflux> I am hoping losing weight would help these problems. I cannot walk 30 feet without losing my breath but I don't know if these things are serious enough for an ins. co. or medicare. I am trying to give up smoking too. Every time I do, on go the lbs. I was worried that a doctor would not do the surgery at this age, or that medicare would not pay. Thanks for writing. Nanaviv

Medicare only asks that you meet the obesity part of the program. The rest of the things they look at only help your case. The shortness of breath surely would be helped with weight loss. If you have been treated for ongoing high blood pressure or cholesterol, that also helps. Sleep apnea is absolutely covered, and you might want to ask your dr. to request a sleep study as often we have it and don't know it. I had no idea I had it. I wish you luck, and don't think you are ever too old to want to look and feel better. Thanks for writing and I hope you follow through with Medicare.

Hi again, Thanks for the info. What is considered the obesity part? How many pounds overweight? I know I am asking for a lot of information but if at least some of the surgery isn't covered, I don't know if I should start. Thanks again, Nanaviv