self pay insurance

[dillon1205 0]

I was wondering if anyone know which insurance company cares a policy that includes obesity surgery. I was banded on friday and now my best friend really wants to get banded. she is not insured and has been shopping around to find a carrier that includes obesity surgery in their self insured policy. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

[RestlessMonkey 7]

An agent should be able to help her. Insurance (and laws) vary so much by state to state; what one person has (price, coverage etc) will vary when compared to another state etc. Personal insurance is so expensive (and many of them don't cover "elective" surgery, which this is) so your friend MIGHT be better off to just pay for the surgery. Either way a good independent insurance agent can help. (remember too that insurance, when you self pay, is way more expensive for overweight people) Good luck.

[kgloverii 0]

For the record, I know of NO individual insurance policies that cover obesity surgery. Self-pay is probably the only option, I am afraid to say.

[alegna242 1]

The $500+ she probably would be paying a month in insurance to cover the surgery, and follow up visits she could have her lap band surgery paid off in a couple of years. I wish sooooooo very much there was a private insurance company that would cover lap band, but there isn't. It's just a sad truth for the un-insured in America. I am sorry and wish your friend and yourself the best of luck.

[HeatherO 7]

If you could find a company that would cover the surgery, I would really be amazed.

The problem is that if people were aware that they covered the surgery, it would be better for all of us self payers to go on the plan long enough to get the surgery and drop it afterwards. The insurance company would lose a lot of money this way and either have to raise premiums which are already high or drop the coverage.

[meltingaway 0]

i have cinergy ins.. it costs 230 a month.. i have had it less than a year.. it took 8 months to get banded but its done.. and no copays

[meltingaway 0]

oh plus you can not just get the ins the drop it after you are banded.. there is so much follow up and you need ins .. everything is a charge.. please dont cancel .. you need followups and fills and blood work

[alegna242 1]

oh plus you can not just get the ins the drop it after you are banded.. there is so much follow up and you need ins .. everything is a charge.. please dont cancel .. you need followups and fills and blood work

No offense Meltingaway, I may be confused,

But I have heard nothing but horrible things about Cinergy telling people they are medical insurance when they are nothing but a inflated priced discount card that doesn't discount much, if anything.

[meltingaway 0]

all i really know is that i have cinergy and got it in may of 08. . i pay 230 a month ..right out of my checking account.. i am allowed 5 visits a year to a dr. and 1 to the eye dr. and 1 to the dentist for cleaning. max to eye dr per year is 100 bucks. same for dentist.. all perscriptions are discounted.. scripts and glasses are not covered. just discounted. i was banded on march 2 2009.. no copays.. no problems. if anyone here is from buffalo ny and considering lapband just call buffalo general and ask for lisa at dr. hoffmans office. she will tell you it takes time but cinergy did approve me..maybe i got lucky but i have never recieved a single bill...not even phys consultation.. they paid it.. and 2 sleep studies.. they will not pay for cpap..