Weight Loss Surgery Oklahoma
insurance cover weight loss surgery?
I'm from Oklahoma and want to know if any company insurance cover weight loss surgery? And can someone tell me eperience first hand how the procedure and the surgery cost? Any information is helpful. Thanks
BCBS California (and probably others in the family BCBS) covers both Roux-en-Y and LAP group. But you have greater demands for the return of the band. For Lap-Band, you need a BMI between 30 and 35 with at least two co-morbidity. And we could still say no. If your BMI is 35 or higher, without co-morbidity are required. But for some reason they seem more willing to approve the Roux-en-Y. Perhaps because it was already available? I have also heard that you may need to be in a supervised diet plan for at least six months before I will approve it. That might actually be higher than that. Yeah, freakin 'pretty discouraging. The rate bypass is third largest silastic ring, which involves stapling the stomach. I think this has largely fallen out of favor with the preference for Roux-en-Y, at least for a bypass. I found a site months ago that gave the history of bariatric surgery and many different techniques that date back to the 1950s, if I remember correctly. Very interesting. Unfortunately, the link does not seem to have more. My wife has the PAL-band in July 2007. She has lost about 45 pounds to date, and is halfway through its current target. (You can change your destiny as she approaches it, is a number rather artificial as it is, anyway.) Once there, she'll get her tummy surgery aesthetics. Is ready to do that, but knows he has to be patient. Links below which may help. You can not see the videos to the lap procedure band YouTube. If you do not have a strong stomach, you may not want to see. But if you can separate, are quite interesting. Virtually no blood, only a suture needle. Some incredible laparoscopic instruments in use. The only thing that attracted us to the LAP-BAND is that if at a later date it determines that it is running (or perhaps work well), you can always remove. Not that you need to have it removed, mind you. My wife found the fill hole to be very obvious at first, but now has to play and products with your fingers to find it. Also check out Lap Band Talk, the forum link is also below. I should also mention that prices may vary lot. Our out of pocket cost was something like $ 4200 but later found out that all the bits and pieces and the hospital stay would have said over $ 20k easily. Thank God for insurance, although we are still playing "the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing" with respect to the insurance company (Which clearly was approved) and the hospital charged the insurance company does not know anything about it. Shop around if you have the option, like $ 10k-$ 12k all in should not be impossible to find. Some people talk in the band decided to go back to Mexico to work at a great price. And if there is nothing more than you remember, remember this: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Get Pre-approval for everything. For example, the sleep study, if the surgeon has a mandate to the office. ALL. Back all, put the originals in a safe place. Never leave the originals with anyone. I had a manager who is pre-approved, got the Roux-en-Y, and shook his insurance company around for ages, trying to ensure they were never approved. He fought tooth and nail and won over time. Never assume anything. Document everything. If you pick up the phone to talk to the insurance company, get the name of the person, number, record the date of the conversation, etc. If someone gives you an approval verbal, be sure to send a hard copy (written after the approval number to yourself, of course). If you do not stay on top of things are going to jump at every opportunity. Either that or they are so immersed in the bureaucracy who do not really know what is happening. Good luck!
WeightWise FAQ – Nurse Practitioner Part 1