Insurance Doesn't Cover It, What Are My Options

[Horus 0]

I went to a seminar for lap band, the hospital employee checked my insurance and told me the insurance plan picked by my employer doesn't cover lap band.

Seeing how there are only about 200,000 bariatric surgeries in the US (1/1500 of the population per year) and maybe run $15k that works out to maybe $10 per person per year to cover obesity surgeries in the US, so on paper it shouldn't be much more for insurance to cover them. Despite that, I think these surgeries are something an employer has to pick to get covered under their plan.

I also live in Indiana, I thought in Indiana insurance companies had to cover the surgeries. Anyone know for sure?

I may try self pay. The cheapest I've seen in the US is about $10,700 at two places, one in southern California and one in Michigan.

I found this place in Colorado offering it for $8950. Not bad, considering my deductible and copay would be $3600 even if insurance covered it.

http://www.lapbandrockies.com/our-fees

What are my other options?

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

If your insurance excludes bariatric surgery entirely, there's not a lot you can do besides paying for the surgery out of pocket. There are no states that require it's covered, in fact (sadly) bariatric surgery is at risk of not being covered by anyone in the coming years thanks to the healthcare law changes.

My only advice is to choose a bariatric surgeon based on their skill level and program offered, not based on price. It's unfortunate, but too often we see people who choose surgeons based on cost who end up greatly regretting it later because they get substandard care both during surgery and afterwards.

Best wishes.

[jhshriver 17]

I would agree that you shouldn't be focusing on price. There are something's you shouldn't want to get cheap. One that always baffled me was discount laser eye surgery. Pretty sure discount surgery of any kind wouldn't be a good idea unless the professionals involved are up to snuff.

[jhshriver 17]

Also, I want to add that I am self pay. My surgeon is in Cincinnati, Ohio and aftercare appointments for fills and such were part of the surgery price.