Had my first appointment today..

[Goddardgo 90]

So I had my first appointment with Weight Loss Institute of AZ today. It took about 3 hours.. met with the financial lady first who told me the procedure would cost about $9000.00 that would depend on how much the facility charges. I asked if there was an outpatient option and she spoke with the Surgeon who agreed to do my surgery outpatient which means I have to come up with $6,000.00 it's a little sad that this is the amount I have to pay using my Cigna insurance considering I work for Cigna Anyway I will have to deal with that by withdrawing from my 401k and maybe having a bake sale hee hee!

I am a little confused now though because my surgeon started giving me information on the lapband just so I knew there were other options. My husband was there with me and now asks that I just weigh my option between the two.

Does anybody have any advise for me regarding the lapband vs the sleeve? I knew going into this process that the sleeve is what I wanted, but now I am second guessing.. thoughts?

Thanks everybody!!

[shedevil 23]

Well I went to Banner Health and mostly they say sleeve. They said they have not had such success with lap bands and there tends to be more complications plus jot as much weight loss on average.

[cbarrios126 2]

I had the lap band in 2008 and just did a revision from the band to the sleeve so has my mom and my aunt. For me personally I don't care for the lap band I didn't ever really work for me and in the end it became displaced so I had to do another surgery...

[CMWSleeved 10]

I also work for Cigna however, i am located in Maryland. If i have the procedure done by the end of the year i will not have to pay a penny since i have met both my deductible and Maxium Out of Pocket for the year. I was wondering though why would you have to pay so much for your procedure. Is is because you have not met the deductible yet? I know once you met the deductible than the insurance kicks in and covers 80% of your medical costs.

Hope i am not asking too much personal information. I was thinking that since we work for Cigna our coverage rules should/would be the same.

[Goddardgo 90]

I also work for Cigna however, i am located in Maryland. If i have the procedure done by the end of the year i will not have to pay a penny since i have met both my deductible and Maxium Out of Pocket for the year. I was wondering though why would you have to pay so much for your procedure. Is is because you have not met the deductible yet? I know once you met the deductible than the insurance kicks in and covers 80% of your medical costs.

Hope i am not asking too much personal information. I was thinking that since we work for Cigna our coverage rules should/would be the same.

You're so not asking too much I have not come close, my deductable is 7,500 for family coverage... since none of us have accessed care this year guess who gets to meet that one? ME message me your name.. are you on lync at work?

[ladybug112000 114]

I'm in Oklahoma and my HealthChoice Insurance will not pay a dime! The sleeve procedure is costing me $16,000! OUCH!!!!!

[Goddardgo 90]

I'm in Oklahoma and my HealthChoice Insurance will not pay a dime! The sleeve procedure is costing me $16,000! OUCH!!!!!

OUCH is right! Is that something you can do? It would take me years lol

[onedaycloser 136]

I've read on these forums a out a lot of people who had to have and removed and converted to sleeve.

Personally, I never liked the idea if a "foreign" object around my stomach...that's my personal opinion.

I'm sure you'll make the right decision for you.

Good luck!

[ladybug112000 114]

OUCH is right! Is that something you can do? It would take me years lol

Yes, I went to the bank and was able to get a loan. Money well spent!!!! My surgery is August 6th or 7th!!

[kmed21 41]

My surgeons office doesnt even do it anymore.. you guys work for cigna and only covers 80? We have cigna and it covers mine 90.

[socalfosh 17]

So I had my first appointment with Weight Loss Institute of AZ today. It took about 3 hours.. met with the financial lady first who told me the procedure would cost about 9000.00 that would depend on how much the facility charges. I asked if there was an outpatient option and she spoke with the Surgeon who agreed to do my surgery outpatient which means I have to come up with 6' date='000.00 it's a little sad that this is the amount I have to pay using my Cigna insurance considering I work for Cigna Anyway I will have to deal with that by withdrawing from my 401k and maybe having a bake sale hee hee!

I am a little confused now though because my surgeon started giving me information on the lapband just so I knew there were other options. My husband was there with me and now asks that I just weigh my option between the two.

Does anybody have any advise for me regarding the lapband vs the sleeve? I knew going into this process that the sleeve is what I wanted, but now I am second guessing.. thoughts?

Thanks everybody!! [/quote']

Hi there's. I was banded in 08 and lost about 90 pounds then regained 40.. You can have some success but there are complications with the band. It can embed into our stomach or slip. I know someone with the band whose stomach is so damaged, she can't convert to the sleeve. I am in the process of converting to sleeve. Do a lot of research before you choose and choose what you think is right for you. I wish I would have known about the sleeve in 08. Weight loss is slow with the band. Took me about 2.5 yrs to lose that weight , I hear its much faster with the sleeve. Goof luck.

[RCN 25]

Wow, that sucks that you work for Cigna and you have to pay so much...

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