Please Help Lap Band Surgery Canceled

[Quinnmc79 27]

also, if you feel comfortable, you can talk to your employers HR person, maybe they can give you more insight about the insurance plan, and let you know if any changes were made to coverage from 2011 to 2012

[Cazzy 725]

I cant really help with any ideas as we dont have insurance problems in the UK .. but i really hope things work out for you .. fingers crossed

[maryjoann 4]

most doctor offices will help you with the appeal process; if your doesn't, maybe another doctor will help you out. I read most appeals go through if you want to go through the hassle. There's also a book, weight loss surgery for dummies, that tells you how to appeal. hope this helps.

[Shellyac 22]

If you suffer from acid reflux and you are willing to go with the gastric sleeve plication, you may be able to have your surgery covered by insurance. The sleeve plication is a procedure based on the Nissen fundoplication which is used to treat acid reflux. My sister was unsure of having the band but was interested in plication as a stand alone WLS procedure. While plication on it's own isn't usually covered by insurance, the Nissen fundoplication is covered so her doctor will give her both at the same time and it will be covered by her insurance.

While plication as a WLS is relatively new it does show some promise, especially since one of the side effects of the fundoplication was weight loss. Plication is also being preformed with lap bands so far the majority of us that have had the band with plication done are happy with the results.

If you do decide to consider the plication be aware that not all doctors will bill it as a treatment for acid reflux, the doctor that my sister is using is in Miami so you may need to travel. One important benefit is if you do go this way, you won't have to jump through the usual insurance hoops and can pretty much have the surgery right away.

Another option you may have is to see if you have a hernia, if you do you could have the surgery to repair the hernia and then self pay to have the band put in which could save you thousands over paying for the band surgery on its own

[Cazzy 725]

Sounds like a great idea Shelly