Hi Everybody,

Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving! I have a question about switching health insurance plans after you've had the surgery. I was told that the bypass is considered a pre-existing condition and may make it difficult to get covered by a new insurance provider. Has anybody run into this problem? Or know where I can get more information?

I do not know about New York but there is the Portability of Insurance Act. I am not as familiar with it as I no longer work in health care but you can check it out on the internet. Also if there is a pre-existing condition clause you can look at Cobra and it allows you to pay privately for your old insurance for a lengthy period of time to cover pre existing problems. It is expensive because you pay your total cost. I do not know about New York and if these Acts/Laws are all over the US. A medical social worker might be able to help or an attorney that works with medical claims. Good luck. Hopefully you will have no complications from your surgery and it will be a moot point.

Diamond Girl.

Thanks Diamond Girl. I'll look into the Portability of Insurance Act and see what's involved. Also, I didn't know there was such a person as a medical social worker! I'll look into that as well. I just don't want any surprises if and when I change jobs. There's so much conflicting information out there.

Hi,
I sell insurance and yes it is considered a preexisting condition. You may be able to get coverage depending on how long ago you had it and if you've had any complications. They may cover you and exclude any complications from the surgery. Cobra does allow you to take your insurance with you, but you have to pay an arm and a leg for it. If you are able to get coverage through your new employer, there should not be a problem. I recently switched jobs, and since I'm more than 5 years out, it's been fine.
Good luck!!

Hi Jody,

Thanks for the info. I've been in my present company forever and haven't had to deal with a new insurance plan. We've changed providers over the years, but everybody was just rolled into the new plan. I've haven't had any health issues in the past and I'm not used to dealing with insurance companies, so I'm trying to prepare myself for any insurance-related surprises down the road.

Kathy,

You shouldnt have a problem getting insurance coverage if your employer is switching providers. In almost all situations that I can recall part of the deal the employer makes with the provider is that pre existing conditions will not effect any employee's ability to be insured. I switched after my WLS and then the new provider covered my plastic surgery. I would talk with your HR person and see what they have to say.

Yes insurance deems gastric bypass a pre-existing condition. I quit my job almost two years ago after having WLS and couldn't afford to take Cobra. When I attempted to get insurance on my own I was denied, along with several other pre-existing conditions (history of depression, previous complicated delivery with c-section, etc.), and gastric bypass was among the reasons. Thanks to the *wonderful* health (sick) care in this country I am left without coverage unless I return to work full-time and can be covered by a group policy.

Good luck with your insurance endeavors.