newbie with tons of ?????

January 12, 2006

How much is the procedure in Mississippi?

Does anyone recommend a particular surgeon here?

How do I find out if my insurance covers it?

After consultation, how soon can I expect procedure?

When will I start seeing results?

I am in poor health due to weight and extremely depressed. I feel that this is my last resort. I need my life back.

FunnyDuddies · January 12, 2006

Welcome to the site. The cost depends on the surgeon you choose. I have seen place in the US range from $15k to $50k. Outside of the US it is much cheaper. I am sure that someone in your area will be able to tell you who is a good clinic to go through. As for your ins company, just give them a call. After you give them your policy and group number they can look at your particular coverage and tell you if any of the obesity care is covered and what is needed by you and the surgeon if it is covered. As for the time after consultation, it really depends on your insurance company. Some move quickly, and some have been waiting over a year. And as for the results, that varies too. It seems the average is 1-2 pounds AVERAGE per week. Most see a dramatic quick loss in the beginning then it slows quite a bit. The best scenario is 85% of your extra weight lost over 18 months. But as I said, everyone loses at different paces.

I hope that helps!!

Amy

Alexandra · January 12, 2006

How much is the procedure in Mississippi?
Does anyone recommend a particular surgeon here?

How do I find out if my insurance covers it?

After consultation, how soon can I expect procedure?

When will I start seeing results?

I am in poor health due to weight and extremely depressed. I feel that this is my last resort. I need my life back.

Hi, and welcome to LBT! You are in the right place to get answers to your questions. If you ask me, the first step is to figure out if you are medically eligible for the surgery, and then find out if your insurance will cover it.

--Are you medically eligible? If your BMI is over 40, or if it's over 35 and you have debilitating conditions as well such as sleep apnea, diabetes, etc., you probably are. If you've spent more than 5 years as a morbidly obese person and failed at attempts to control your weight in the past, you probably are.

--Will your insurance cover it? Pull out your insurance documents and read them over. Many have a standard exclusion for treatments of obesity, unless medically necessary or unless there is a diagnosis of morbid obesity. If you are medically eligible and this is what your documents say, you're in good shape.

--Go to your PCP for a physical. Even if your insurance plan doesn't require referrals, you will need your primary-care doctor's support as you go through the process. So go to the doctor, get that diagnosis of morbid obesity in your chart, and then ask him or her for the name of a bariatric surgeon in your health plan.

--Go visit the surgeon. He or she will have a pile of documents and instructions for you even before you are officially a patient. Only that office can tell you affirmatively if you're a good candidate for surgery, and only that office can answer your question about the time. That depends on a lot of factors, some of which are beyond your control.

You'll get answers to LOTS of your questions as you go through the above steps, and of course we're here to answer more as they occur to you.