Buaya_Guy

Hi all, I was just invited to sign up for insurance benefits with my employer (Office Depot), but after checking out the benefits website and calling for more information (and before signing up for the insurance, thankfully...) I found out that O.D. does NOT cover this type of procedure. So I need to find some sort of outside insurance. Blue Cross/Blue Shield seems like a potential carrier, but I'm a little worried by the first entry under "Things we don't cover": * services, supplies and treatments that are not medically necessary I've heard arguments on both sides saying that it is and is not a "medically necessary" treatment - I'm under the impression that it is. I'll try calling them tomorrow, but I would appreciate replies from anyone who may be in the greater New Orleans area who needed to find 3rd party insurance to cover this procedure. Replies from *anyone* using 3rd party coverage would be helpful though :thumbup: Thanks! -Bryan

Hey again, sorry it's taken so long to reply, but I was finding out more information about this. It turns out that Office Depot does *NOT* cover this type of surgery, so I'll need to go with an outside provider, so I'm asking for help now.... Is anyone here from the New Orleans area and do you have an individual policy directly from the insurance company? I just checked Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New Orleans, and in their brochure, one of the first items they say is not covered is: * services, supplies and treatments that are not medically necessary. This can't just be a cosmetic procedure...I'm certainly going to call and ask, but I'm afraid that if I can't get insurance to pay for this, that I won't be able to have it done at all, and at this point I'm thinking it may be one of the only things I can realistically do to lose the amount of weight that would get me back down to a seriously "healthy" or "normal" level (I'm thinking I'll need to lose close to 150 pounds...) If anyone knows *anything* about the insurance coverage for this procedure in the New Orleans area, please reply! Thanks, -Bryan

I was looking for a thread talking about martial arts... I'm still in the beginning stages of finding out about the Lapband, but I wanted to hear from some martial artists who have been banded already. I'm about to start up in Aikido - 2x per week. From the 2 classes I've had so far, the falling isn't particularly difficult, but I *do* know how to take ukemi - I was in traditional JuJitsu (not BJJ) for close to 4 years back around 2000 or so. Is that kind of rolling around and falling going to be bad for someone who's been banded? Can it jar the system loose somehow? If anyone is doing Aikido/Japanese JuJitsu/Judo post-op, please let me know :wub: Thanks! -Bryan

Hi all, I'm Bryan and I live in New Orleans. I've probably been overweight for most of my adult life, but it's only recently (say the last 6-8 months) that my weight has reached close to the 300 pound mark. I'm 6'1", and should probably weigh around the 150-160 pound range....it's been so long now that I'm not even sure anymore :wub:) I was able to lose quite a bit of weight in 2002, and managed to keep it off for about 6 months or so, but now I think it's time to try the Lapband system. I'm about to sign up for health insurance with my employer (Office Depot) - they use Aetna as their provider. Does anyone know from prior experience if Aetna covers this type of surgery? If they don't, I may need to try to get some sort of outside insurance plan. My dad's a doctor, so he has some contacts here in town, but I think Ochsner is a very good hospital (had some eye surgery done there many years ago.) If anyone else in my area has some good recommendations, I'd be happy to hear them :thumbup: Just a quick intro, I'll be reading these forums more and more as the time goes on - I hope to be able to set something up within the next 6 months at the latest. -Bryan