I have heard bad things about going to mexico for surgery..My surgeon told me that he had paitents who went to mexico for surgery and came back and didnt loose any weight only to find out the dr in mexico never actually did the procedure ..

So my insurance finally covers bariatric surgery but they have maximum lifetime amount of $5000.00.  I know insurance negoties rates with doctors but that seems awfully low.

When I checked into the surgery last year they said the cost was $28-29k so how can I found out realistically what insurance will cover?

My husband had gallbladder surgery and the cost was over $12k and insurance only paid $1k or something like that so I'd like to think this MIGHT actually be doable but it just seems so unbelievable.

Anyone have more info or can shed any light?

I'm waiting on dr's office to call me back and hoping they can provide more info but I always like to hear real life stories too.

Thanks for posting, I am interested in finding this information too.

On January 5, 2012 at 1:18 PM Pacific Time, bdocker wrote:I have Blue Sheild of CA but its PPO not HMO. Calling customer service takes a LONG time because all they want to tell you is that bariatric surgery is a covered benefit not what the requirements are. So if you can stop them from telling you what is covered and coerce them into telling you the requirement that is what you need to do.

Mine has a six month supervised weight loss but they are VERY open about any method of weight loss as long as it's supervised and you can provide records.

Brenda~

Brenda...agreed on customer reps...can call em 10 different times n gettin 10 different answers...me 3 TIMES before I got someone that gave a **** about me! I stuck with her throughout...including DENIAL
(back in them VSG pioneerin days) TO WINNING ON APPEAL...she was a blessin that gal...

BCBS of Cali...DOES NOT REQUIRE medically supervised weight loss inc. ALL PPO insurance cos...HMOs like KAISER....you can get even THEIR medically supervised Optifast m.s. diets WAIVED!!.... ...THE WHOLE STATE

its been found to be a WASTE OF TIME and MONEY....California Dept of Managed Health Care
and California Insurance Commision

SAYS SO!!

http://www.dmhc.ca.gov/aboutTheDMHC/org/boards/cap/Bariatric REV.pdf

KNOW yer policy! I have BCBS Cali...PPO!! never did ONE DAY of WL diet...That WAS over 3 yrs AGO!!

I did that and my PCP was thrilled!! Saved her the time from doing it and she just put it on their letterhead.  I will PM you the letter I wrote.

Nan