I recently celebrated my one year anniversary and am battling this hanging skin on my abdomen. My Dr tells me he does not believe there will be any problem in my insurance approving having a panniculectomy. I was just wondering if there is anyone else out there who has had this done and would like to give me any advice. Thanks.

Hi everyone, I have been to this site many times and been gonna join in well now I have....I have been thru 8 months of tracking info and getting it to the right people....Lots of phone calls etc, etc, and bless them they all came thru for me....MY insurance rep from promed kept saying no news was good news and she was right.... I hope everyone out there gets their approval soon. It is a really good feeling....

I was very happy to sign this petition. In one year I have lost 235 lbs. I no longer need diabetes medication & testing supplies. I look forward to returning to work soon and being a productive member of society. I believe the cost of this procedure far outweighs the long term costs of meds & treatments associated with morbid obesity. I am so elated that all of my medical problems are reversing as the weight goes off. I am at an age that I will be able to work another 30 years thanks to this life saving surgery.

I understand how all of you are feeling. My insurance flat out has a clause against bariatric surgery. You would think as health care providers that our insurance would be a little more comprehensive! Oh, well... I have a date Sept. 1st and it's comming out of my own pocket, but it will be worth it in the long run. Good luck to all of you. Brook

Hey Meleta, Glad to hear from you. Yes I got several "winners" at the ins co. I was just told yesterday that my case is a good example of "wrong from the first telephone call". I am now going to get to use one of the SW Bariatric group docs here in Austin. They use our HCA facilities but the ins. won't approve them since they formed this group. They were and still are covered for general surgeries at all 3 of our hospitals here. Does that sound like a crock of crap to anyone else? I have been told that First Health will stop paying for wls next year. Oh well, I will surely have mine by that time. I feel sorry for all the people who won't be able to get theirs done, though. Thanks for the reply. Ck out our Texas Board sometimes. We have a great Family there. Cyn