Insurance Company Needed

[niecyrenee 2]

Hello! :wave: I am new here and needing some help. My new employer will pay for health insurance but I have to find my own. I am having a difficult time at this. I want to find a company that will pay for Lap Band surgery but am not having much luck. I was told that United Healthcare covers it but when I called to check with them, they told me that they don't. Can anyone recommend a health insurance company to me to try. I live in Missouri.

Any recommendations that I can get would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much for your help!!

:grouphug:

Niecy

[Alexandra 55]

If you're in Missouri you should look up your state's health insurance website and see what the rules are for individual policies. In NJ they all have to cover bariatric surgery, for example. Calling the carrier really isn't necessarily the best way to find out, because each carrier has so many different kinds of plans and variables. Good luck!

[clovermeg 2]

Did you try this website http://www.bcbsmo.com/ ?

[niecyrenee 2]

I'll check into those. I was really discouraged when UH told me they don't cover it especially since my surgeon's office told me they do. I'll have to check out the state's website. Thanks so much for your help!!

I am determined to get this surgery one way or another! :grouphug:

[niecyrenee 2]

Ok, this insurance thing is all new to me but from what I have read, in Missouri, they don't have to cover weight loss surgery. I am at a loss.

[Alexandra 55]

Niecy, individual plans are often bare-bones sorts of plans. Does your employer qualify for a group plan? Does he have other employees? You might want to call a broker in your state and find out if there are any reasonable options for a small business owner to pursue. Hell, if your boss has individual insurance he might discover it's cheaper to buy a group plan, and he'll likely get better coverage for himself!

[niecyrenee 2]

I work for an agency of the state that is funded by tax money, however I am not a state employee. Since the state pays us, they set the guidelines and they no longer offer the option of group plans. There is one other employee and he didn't have a need for specific things so he just went and got some basic plan through BCBS.

I am currently on my husband's insurance and they do cover weight loss surgery but they have a lifetime maximum that doesn't meet the costs. Covering the additional cost isn't a option for me right now. :grouphug: This may not be something you can do but do you know if there is a way to "increase" my current benefits by having my employer pay more?

[Mvpo8961 1]

Niecy how much is the lifetime benefit on your husband's policy.

I too have a limit but the hospital where I had my surgery charged in network prices for my surgery so it fell under the limit. Most insurances negotiate a contract price that is below what the selfpay patient would pay.

M

[niecyrenee 2]

I'll check into it. Thanks!

[niecyrenee 2]

Wonderful news! My husband's insurance company has a lifetime max of $10,000 but the hospital and my surgeon are working with me and think I can get it done for real close to that (given that there are no complications). My husband and I decided that even if it cost us a few thousand dollars that it is WELL worth it. I am getting my appointments taken care of in the next few weeks and they anticipate that my surgery will be the end of September or first of October! I can't wait!!!

[Mvpo8961 1]

Congrats on the good news. I hope everything will go smoothly for you. Keep us updated on the insurance battle.

Myra