duodenalswitch
New member
Hi Liza,<br>
<br>
I understand your point of view. And I agree that the cost is
minor compared to what other people with other conditions pay each
month. But there is a catch-22 involved here...<br>
<br>
Insurance (at least my insurance) does not pay for weight loss
surgery, even if you can show medical need. They pay
NOTHING....nothing for the tests...nothing for the
hospital...nothing for the doctors....or follow-up....or
medicines...or vitamins. And unless you qualify for
Medicaid, the government does not help either. <br>
<br>
So that leaves conventional loans. These loans must be
secured (unless you have credit card limits out of this world and
can afford to pay off a $50,000 debt at the unearthly credit card
rates). That means putting your house, retirement, whatever
up as collateral. And it adds basically another house payment
to your monthly bills. Now keep in mind, a lot of people
(like me) have physical problems that prevent them from working or
changing jobs (I had liver and kidney dysfunction, phlebitis,
edema, high blood pressure, and heart problems). As you
may know, treating these diseases can be costly by themselves.<br>
<br>
Now let's add the vitamins. Again, insurance pays NOTHING for
them. Taking the cocktail I take each day costs me $50 a
month for ADEKS (have to take 2 a day), $32 a month for the
calcium, $20 a month for the multivitamins and misc. pills and
$45 a month for shots. This has gotten more critical
for me as my vitamin K levels are now dangerously low. The
ADEK's have the highest concentration of water "soluable"
vitamin K available without a prescription, which is why I am
looking for them versus just some generic "ADEK"
vitamin.<br>
<br>
I have had severe protein, B-12, zinc, calcium, copper, iron, and
vitamin D problems already that required treatment or
hospitalization. Again, if I become hospitalized for this (or
anything else it deems related to my surgery) my insurance will not
pay for any of those expenses when they come because they see it as
a result of the surgery. They have not paid for any of my
other hospital and doctor's visits, blood work, or tests since my
surgery. Add those expenses to the heavy loans and I am
almost $280,000 in medical debt, not including the monetary
requirements needed each month just to pay for the monthly
supplies. Again, I realize that some people become millions
in debt for their conditions, so I'm not trying to overstate my
situation.<br>
<br>
I'm not on here to whine or complain or look for pity. I know
my perils are NOTHING compared to lots of other people with
"real" health problems. I asked for my current
situation. Do I regret having surgery? ABSOLUTELY
NOT!!! I know I would be dead by now if I would not have had
it done.
<br>
I understand your point of view. And I agree that the cost is
minor compared to what other people with other conditions pay each
month. But there is a catch-22 involved here...<br>
<br>
Insurance (at least my insurance) does not pay for weight loss
surgery, even if you can show medical need. They pay
NOTHING....nothing for the tests...nothing for the
hospital...nothing for the doctors....or follow-up....or
medicines...or vitamins. And unless you qualify for
Medicaid, the government does not help either. <br>
<br>
So that leaves conventional loans. These loans must be
secured (unless you have credit card limits out of this world and
can afford to pay off a $50,000 debt at the unearthly credit card
rates). That means putting your house, retirement, whatever
up as collateral. And it adds basically another house payment
to your monthly bills. Now keep in mind, a lot of people
(like me) have physical problems that prevent them from working or
changing jobs (I had liver and kidney dysfunction, phlebitis,
edema, high blood pressure, and heart problems). As you
may know, treating these diseases can be costly by themselves.<br>
<br>
Now let's add the vitamins. Again, insurance pays NOTHING for
them. Taking the cocktail I take each day costs me $50 a
month for ADEKS (have to take 2 a day), $32 a month for the
calcium, $20 a month for the multivitamins and misc. pills and
$45 a month for shots. This has gotten more critical
for me as my vitamin K levels are now dangerously low. The
ADEK's have the highest concentration of water "soluable"
vitamin K available without a prescription, which is why I am
looking for them versus just some generic "ADEK"
vitamin.<br>
<br>
I have had severe protein, B-12, zinc, calcium, copper, iron, and
vitamin D problems already that required treatment or
hospitalization. Again, if I become hospitalized for this (or
anything else it deems related to my surgery) my insurance will not
pay for any of those expenses when they come because they see it as
a result of the surgery. They have not paid for any of my
other hospital and doctor's visits, blood work, or tests since my
surgery. Add those expenses to the heavy loans and I am
almost $280,000 in medical debt, not including the monetary
requirements needed each month just to pay for the monthly
supplies. Again, I realize that some people become millions
in debt for their conditions, so I'm not trying to overstate my
situation.<br>
<br>
I'm not on here to whine or complain or look for pity. I know
my perils are NOTHING compared to lots of other people with
"real" health problems. I asked for my current
situation. Do I regret having surgery? ABSOLUTELY
NOT!!! I know I would be dead by now if I would not have had
it done.