This is quickly becoming a board that is nothing other than people shouting, "Pick me! Pick me!" It has been stated in other posts that the show does not pay for the surgeries. Like any other doctor's office, the patient will either need to pay out of pocket or have their insurance cover the procedure. Perhaps you can pin a topic to the top that explains this? It may be that some have missed Lauren's comments. I had hoped this was a place we could discuss episodes and this will never happen with the way things are going. Thank you.

Here here! Can we do something to cut the begging and get down to the topics at hand?

First of all I was one of the folks who you have complained about "begging". I am so sorry if I offended you or bothered you by my frivolous need to ask for something for which I could probably never get on my own.

I did go through lots of posts and don't find an overwhelming number of people "beggin" (your term not mine).

I don't want a hand out...I have a decent job but NO health insurance. I could pay for health insurance but there isn't an insurance company that will cover me. I am working on finding out about financing lap band surgery...I don't know how I can do this...but I am going to try.

Once again...I'm so sorry that those of us who don't have the resources to help finance this surgery bothered you by asking for help.

quote:

Originally posted by pizzicato66:
Here here! Can we do something to cut the begging and get down to the topics at hand?

Seems to me ALOT of the topics at hand ARE the lack of insurance companies willing to cover such an operation.
Desperate times = desperate measures. I think we can all relate to that regardless of financial status.
If some folks want to either plead their case or share their frustrations on this forum. I see no problem with that.
Just my .02 cents.
Guy

I have to agree. I'm really tired of the "I volunteer" and "How can I be on the show" I meant it's like 50% or more of the threads.

I have left my own story on this forum. I know the downfall for alot of people with this surgury is they just can not get it done. I would say most of those cant do it mostly because insurance companys will not pay. Secondly I feel some people can not get it because the doctors are starting to not perform the sugery unless your BMI is at 60 or below. Seeing as how mine is at an 88 they say I would have to lose 200 lbs to get to a 60 BMI. Dont you think if I could lose 200lbs on my own, I would not need the surgery. But last of all they require you go on this liquid diet that costs 4 thousand dollars prior to having surgury and no insurance companys pay for that part. That was what the surgen here said. So there are a veritiy of reasons as to why people are asking for help. They dont know where else to go. If you have info on what they can do then give it to them. I know for a fact I am at a dead end. Where do we all go from here? We need to start off by getting it maditory for all insurance providers to cover the surgery. then put a cap on the cost for the liquid diet you have to do. There is no way a liquid diet should cost anyone that much money. As far as the BMI needing to be at 60 or below. I dont know what to say. I am under the understanding it has to do with your safety so I dont really see anything that can be done about that. Other then possibley setting up excerise groups for differant levels of ability so those who have to lose so much in weight can do it with others in the same settings. I just wanted people to understand there are no cut and dry fixes but there are reasons and if we all try to do something about it we just might get this system fixed.

Snippy Snippy..... I won't add to the first comment because a blog is a blog and as free minded people we can type whatever we want about the show, our desire to have WLS, our insurance carriers etc. etc.

As far as the approval process goes with insurance companies, I think with the enlightenment of programs like BIG Medicine, it will pave the way for many of us who suffer from obesity. What I'm saying is that, Insurance companies will hopefully realize that WLS be it gastric bypass, lap-banding, gastric sleeve, gastric balloon and so on is beneficial to the insurance carrier and policy holder. Fact, with obesity comes a plethora of health complications related to our girth. Fact, there is a large percentage of post-op patients that have reported those health complications have been minimized or non-existent after the substantial weight loss. Does CIGNA, AETNA, Blue Cross etc. etc. not see where approving this surgery that ranges between 13K - 18k may in fact benefit them in the long run? If you estimate the costs of being obese, from food to meds and God forbid if you have diabetes and dialysis is needed, over time these carriers will pay far more than the price of WLS.

Then again maybe there's some big conspiracy to keep us sick and fat.

Make sense?
-Blog on that

quote:

Originally posted by chiuree:
But last of all they require you go on this liquid diet that costs 4 thousand dollars prior to having surgury and no insurance companys pay for that part. That was what the surgen here said. So there are a veritiy of reasons as to why people are asking for help. They dont know where else to go. If you have info on what they can do then give it to them. I know for a fact I am at a dead end. Where do we all go from here? We need to start off by getting it maditory for all insurance providers to cover the surgery. then put a cap on the cost for the liquid diet you have to do. There is no way a liquid diet should cost anyone that much money.

The liquid diet is actually the easiest problem to solve. You might want to ask that surgeon for clarification or speak to another surgeon. My doctor required a liquid diet prior to surgery in order to shrink my liver and I drank Atkins shakes. They didn't taste great, but they are effective and, when you buy them on sale, they are cheap. And while it may not solve all your problems, it is a start and it is something you can be DOING while you're doing your research. The best thing you can do for your body is getting it as healthy as absolutely possible before surgery. That comes for free.

quote:

Originally posted by the_king_and_i:
Snippy Snippy..... I won't add to the first comment because a blog is a blog and as free minded people we can type whatever we want about the show, our desire to have WLS, our insurance carriers etc. etc.

As far as the approval process goes with insurance companies, I think with the enlightenment of programs like BIG Medicine, it will pave the way for many of us who suffer from obesity. What I'm saying is that, Insurance companies will hopefully realize that WLS be it gastric bypass, lap-banding, gastric sleeve, gastric balloon and so on is beneficial to the insurance carrier and policy holder. Fact, with obesity comes a plethora of health complications related to our girth. Fact, there is a large percentage of post-op patients that have reported those health complications have been minimized or non-existent after the substantial weight loss. Does CIGNA, AETNA, Blue Cross etc. etc. not see where approving this surgery that ranges between 13K - 18k may in fact benefit them in the long run? If you estimate the costs of being obese, from food to meds and God forbid if you have diabetes and dialysis is needed, over time these carriers will pay far more than the price of WLS.

Then again maybe there's some big conspiracy to keep us sick and fat.

Make sense?
-Blog on that

First of all, a blog may be a blog, but technically, this is a forum. A blog is "journal (or newsletter) that is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption". A forum is "an online discussion group". Which was my point, actually. It's about discussing WLS topics and issues with other members, not about asking the producers to put you on the show.

Secondly, I absolutely agree with you. It is a shame that more insurance companies won't cover the surgery for suitable candidates. It's definitely frustrating. Maybe steps to try and get your insurance company's approval would be a welcome topic. Or if you can't get approval, what can you do low cost or free to help improve yourself physically? The problem is there. It's been stated over and over and over. The key is to start focusing on answers. It's about not letting life "happen to you".

Thirdly, I would be surprised if you could get surgery paid from from start to finish for 13-18k, unless maybe if you went out of the country? It sounds a little on the low end.

Ceashel, if you look hard enough there are doctors in Michigan(pleatman), Louisianna(Belanger) and Dallas that range from 11-12.5K. They are the exception as most are 16-25K. But they are out there. just depneds on how bad you want it and how much work you're willing to do to get what you want.

There are also several financing options avaialbe through CapitolOne and others at low rates which are also tax deductible as a medical expense.

You're right you cannot sit back adn HOPE it happens you have get aggressive with research and youre insurnce company, they have no interest in paying for this for you.

To the people who have to lose a lot of weight pre-op, please consider and look into the Gastric Balloon. It costs 6 thousand dollars and is done in Europe and Canada. Some people do that pre-op to get down to an appropriate weight pre-surgery. Perhaps you wouldn't even need the bypass. Look it up, google search Gastric Balloon.