Denied new insurance coverage because of band!

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I am trying to get new health insurance as my Cobra is running out in November.

I have been denied insurance coverage and the reason they gave is "a medical history of weight loss surgery in June 2006".

Has anyone else experienced this or do you know the reasoning? Am I doomed to be uninsurable? This is scarrrrry!

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Barbara12375
Banded 6/9/06
Dr. Spivak (Houston)Self-pay
5'8" H265/S261/C182/G160/loss so far -83

Barbara, every state's laws are different regarding insurability. In states where there is medical underwriting, people who have had major surgery are often shut out for a period of time, obviously because the new carrier doesn't want to pay for any potential complications. Even if people aren't denied completely, procedures related to surgical followup might be excluded for the first year or something.

Call your state insurance department (or possibly the department of health) and find out what your rights are. There may be a pool you can join for the "uninsurable" population--a state-sponsored pool that offers basic coverage for people who can't buy private policies for whatever reason. Get something like that and in a couple of years you should be good to go with private coverage.

Good luck!!

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~~ Alexandra
banded 8/20/03 -- Dr. Abkin, Morristown NJ
band removed 4/9/07 due to slippage REbanded 8/13/07

340 highest / 210-ish lowest / 255-ish now / 200? maybe?
5'10" -- size 28/30 then, 16/18 now, heading downward once again

Wow, that's pretty scary! Please keep us updated on what happens!

I would think that you're insurable, but that your insurance wouldn't cover anything having to do with your band?

Why isn't this a problem for plastic surgery patients?

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Banded on 9/26/06 by Dr. Aceves, Mexicali, Mexico

Barbara, I applied for individual coverage early this year and was denied by 3 different companies because I had lap band surgery. One company flat out wouldn't take my application, a 2nd company denied me because of a 3 year waiting period stipulation, and the 3rd company denied me because of a 1 year waiting period stipulation. Because I just passed 1 year, I re-applied (yesterday) with company #3 and hope to be approved.

Good luck in your search. It will be tough but be aggressive in your fight.

Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Not Banded Yet - Tonja

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Surgery was October 12, 2006 - so far I've lost 37 pounds. I've got 68 more to go.

May those that love us, love us.
And those that don't love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if He doesn't turn their hearts,
May He turn their ankles
So we will know them by their limping.
~Irish Blessing