Just Getting Started

[tsteves1 14]

Hello! My name is Tracie Steves and I am just started my attempt to take the Lap Band journey. I will attend the seminar on January 11th and turn in the paperwork at that time. I plan to contact the insurance company next week, I have just switched from Select Health to United Healthcare and all I know so far is that they cover it but I don't have the requirements for my plan yet. I found this board that night and it had a lot of helpful information so I decided to join early. It sounds like this is a roller coaster of a journey but I am excited at the prospect.

[mags2u 57]

Good luck!

[Cocoabean 430]

If you have your new health insurance card, you should be able to look up the requirements online. Most companies have their policies posted for members.

Take a look around. A quick google took me to this: https://www.unitedhe...ric_Surgery.pdf

Bariatric surgery, as a primary treatment for weight loss is proven for the following: 1. Class III obesity (BMI > 40 kg/m2) 2. Class II obesity (BMI 35-39.9 kg/m2) in the presence of one or more of the following co-

morbidities:  Type 2 diabetes  Cardiovascular disease (e.g., stroke, myocardial infarction, stable or unstable angina

pectoris, hypertension or coronary artery bypass)  Life-threatening cardiopulmonary problems (e.g., severe sleep apnea, Pickwickian

syndrome, obesity-related cardiomyopathy)

The following bariatric surgical procedures are proven for the treatment of clinically severe obesity as defined by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in adults:

 Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y; gastrojejunal anastomosis)

 Adjustable gastric banding (laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding) – See FDA section/information

 Gastric sleeve procedure (also known as laparoscopic vertical gastrectomy or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy)

 Vertical banded gastroplasty (gastric banding; gastric stapling)  Biliopancreatic bypass (Scopinaro procedure)  Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch

Best wishes!!!

[New Me 0]

Good luck. You picked a good place for info sharing.

[tsteves1 14]

Thanks for the welcome. My new insurance company finally had all of my info up on Monday so I called yesterday and got the ball rolling, sadly in a different direction I had previously started but everything sounds ok so far. I cant use the surgeon I originally chose because my insurance requires i go through their resource center. They explained my benefits, what is covered and what percentages I will be required to pay and sent my info to a case worker who will call me in the next 2 days to explain the requirements further, get me set up with a surgeon and get a nurse case worker set up for me. Now I am just trying to figure out what I will have to pay as my deductible is 2k and the insurance company pays 80% after I meet that, however my OOP max for my insurance is 4k. I am trying to figure out if that means I will have to pay a max of 6k or 4k. I am sure the case worker will explain it all to me.