HELP! Providence won't cover my lap-band.

[DrPhil 0]

Hi everyone,

I'm a newbie. I've gotten a medical referral from my doctor but Providence Health Plan says there's an exclusion on my policy.

Has anyone been to Tijuana for the lap-band procedure? My good friend has and she seems happy with her band, but I'm still kind of nervous since there's that whole "pre-existing things aren't covered" part of American health insurance. What would you recommend?

Go to Mexico and get the lap-band, or find another insurance policy?

Dr. P:help:

[Wheetsin 714]

Is the exclusion carrier enforced or employer?

If you consider changing plans, be sure to find out what they exclude before you leap, or you could end up in the same boat (this happens all the time).

I was banded in the US and covered by insurance. If I hadn't been, I would have self-paid in the US. No MX surgery for me, but that's just my personal decision. Many people have gone to MX, and hopefully they'll chime in.