After Care/ Complications

[CCCross 31]

So I've decided to have the VSG in Mexico in December but after reading all the posts about complications and issues, I'm scared of what I will do if something goes wrong after I've been home. Since this is a maor surgery and there are risks, I wouldn't expect any surgeon (US or otherwise) to automatically cover the complications if they weren't at fault. I will have healthcare at the time of surgery but they do not cover anything to do with WLS or complications from it. I'm a student and on work study, so paying out of pocket for thousands of dollars in medical bills would not be something I could manage.

My biggest questions are:

1. If you havr had WLS surgery and had complications, where did you turn?

2. Has anyone bought insurance for complications from surgery?

3. What plans have you made/use after retuning home for complcations and after care?

Thank you in advance!

[Foxbins 625]

I had my surgery in Mexico but had no complications. I told my PCP 4 days before surgery that I was having bariatric surgery in Mexico and she was pretty cool with it. I have Kaiser and they would have treated any complications that arose.

There is insurance available to cover complications but the surgeon must be enrolled in the program. Some surgeons in Mexico will treat you at little or no cost if you have a complication; ask them about this--you might have to pay the hospital even if the surgeon doesn't charge you. I also encourage you to select a surgeon about whom you read very few negative comments. Some surgeons seem to have more complications than others and you want someone with a low complication rate and also someone who will discuss their complication rate with you. A good surgeon will.

Edited to add: it's BLIS insurance here in the states, you have to find a participating surgeon in the program. For Mexico, there is Sevencorners.com or try Googling "Medical Tourism complication insurance" as there were several companies.

[AngelEyesInNJ 186]

Did you call your insurance company to double check? Mine excludes anything to do with WLS but when I called and spoke to someone she said that I am covered under the emergency care from my plan for the ER. It was my thinking anyway, God forbid something went wrong I was heading straight to the ER anyway so it is great to know they cover it (I thought they would because it would be an ER visit).