Hi, I am a self-payer also, here is a little background, had Blue Cross/Sheild PPO but WLS was excluded. Had the sleeve Dec. 14, 2009, about 4 weeks out I developed Gallstones, however on Jan 1, 10 we changed insurance to Blue Cross HMO, so I went to my PCP (which knew I had WLS cause I had all my pre-ops through him, and the PPO paid for that.) He ordered an Ultrasound, got a referral to the surgon for Gallbladder surgery which I had on Jan. 26th. I think I was lucky it was covered.