I need some Advice!

[rnytiffany 33]

Hi everyone!

I am new here and I have a quick question. My husband switched employers last month and our new insurance does not start until September 1(Aetna). Should I wait until the 1st to schedule a consultation with a surgeon or should I wait until the 1st to see if it is covered. My husband and I have established that if insurance does not cover it we will finance. I honestly do not want to wait around for something that I am unsure of. The worst that could happen is they don't cover it and I could move forward with planning the surgery. Advice?

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I would go ahead and schedule the consultation. If possible, go to a Center of Excellence. At or after the first consultation, if it's a good program, they can help you navigate the insurance requirements.

By the way, I see that you posted to the bypass forum. Since this is your first consultation, I recommend that you be open to exploring all the options and work carefully with your surgeon to choose the best procedure for you.

Best of luck. You are embarking on a life changing journey.

[rnytiffany 33]

I would go ahead and schedule the consultation. If possible, go to a Center of Excellence. At or after the first consultation, if it's a good program, they can help you navigate the insurance requirements.

By the way, I see that you posted to the bypass forum. Since this is your first consultation, I recommend that you be open to exploring all the options and work carefully with your surgeon to choose the best procedure for you.

Best of luck. You are embarking on a life changing journey.

Thanks for the advice ! I will look into finding a center of excellence.

[Djmohr 6,965]

@

To surfer girls point, if you choose a Bariatric center of excellence, your chances are better than your new insurance will cover you down the road.

But I would definately get started because there is likely going to be a supervised diet of some sort that insurance or the center itself requires.

Good luck to you!

[James Marusek 5,244]

I don't see any harm in reviewing the Aetna plans and see if the surgery is covered and what are the prerequisites. The plans are probably online. That should give you a good idea of coverage, but it is no guarantee. You might ask others on the site if they have Aetna insurance and how did it go for them.

I personnally would wait until 1 October since it is only a month and a half off. "Preexisting conditions" seem to bother me. Maybe that is just me. I would attend a Bariatric Support Group Meeting. They are free and will get you going down the right path.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Preexisting conditions aren't an issue anymore. Thanks, Obama!

[rnytiffany 33]

Quick update. My new insurance covers the surgery!!! I am so happy one step closer!

[Dream4tc 192]

@@Inner Surfer Girl. - I agree with you that pre existing conditions aren't an issue. However my secondary insurance is refusing to pay for anything bariatric related. How is this even possible? Granted, they have an exclusion for bariatric ,but how can they deny if it is already pre existing?

[drmeow 323]

Many insurance plans exclude bariatric surgery of some or all types. Sometimes it's because the employer chose to have it not covered, reducing their premiums. Sadly, it's still considered "cosmetic" surgery by many ignorant people. If the plan doesn't cover it, it doesn't matter whether it's pre-existing or not.