Lajuanna,

I don't know about any other ins. cos, but I THINK if you are on the community care PPO plan, they cover bariatric surgery. I am changing to the PPO, now have HMO, and I know the PPO will cover any existing conditions, so if I erode or something they will cover to have it taken care of. I have heard that they will pay for the surgery if you fit the qualifications ie you are at least 100 lbs overweight, have 2 or more comorbidities, or a BMI of 40 and 1 comorbidity. I used Dr. Benavides in Dallas, I was not overweight enough for the Tulsa docs to do. And I don't have HBP, or diabetes, or whatever else they consider a comorbidity.

I had a BMI of 37.5. Isn't that fat enough? Geesh. Anyway, my surgeon only requires you to be 60 lbs overweight for the LAP-BAND®. He says if he did the bypass, he would require the 100 lb, or 40 BMI standards.

Hope this helps a little. I have heard that Blue Cross Blue Shield pays for the band and bypass, but not sure.
Kristi

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