Should Gastric Banding Surgery Be Government (Taxpayer) Funded?

That still doesn't mean you should get government funded surgery. You still chose to eat, whether you were depressed or not.

 

Let's see, if you have gastric problems like obesity, that usually is considered as a illness for many different reasons, so I think that sometimes is completelly necessary an operationg of that kind. Then, I'm sure that the government should fund this operations because are many times basic for the health of the person.

The obesity gives more risk for a heart attack, less movility, difficulty to breathe. So it is a question of health and the operation must be public.

 

If gastric banding lowers the expected healthcare costs by enough to justify the cost, then perhaps government healthcare should cover the procedure.

But if this is true, then it should not only be covered by the government, but should be mandatory for every obese person. The obese people are costing the government unnecessary money in expected healthcare costs and should be forced to be banded to better use the government's limited healthcare funds.

As long as the procedure is optional, it should be paid for by the individual seeking the procedure.

 

That is why insurance is paying for them. Obesity is a major health problem. You have to be 100 pounds overweight and have a major health issue from it before insurance, Medicare or the VA to pay. Diabetis is going to break this country.

 

I think it depends on cost/benefit. I haven't seen any studies, but it may be a whole lot cheaper to pay for the band than to pay for the diabetes, lack of productivity, etc. that go with being fat.

 

If Lasik eye surgery is considered a "luxury," then gastric bypass/lapband surgery certainly should be. By in large people's vision is not something they have control over. But how much you eat in relation to how much you move around is directly under your control. Lack of will power or depression does not absolve someone of responsibility for their own choices. People who go that route are more invested in finding ways to excuse their behavior than in changing it. In addiction, this is called denial.

 

more than 1003 overweight]

There is a big difference. Gross obesity [over 100# overweight] is a risk for many diseases. It is cheaper to pay for lapbanding than the cost of chronic diabetic health care. Not everybody has control over their weight problem. We are a FAT AMERICA!

 

a GREAT POST. and RIGHT ON!

 

BULLCRAP! my 4' 8" Korean daughter in law eats more than me. She is 40 and has the body of a 14 year old. Genetics and race play into the factor. Poor people eat diets higher in carbs and fats. Some people can't do vigorous excersize because of various medical reasons.

 

The title of the thread made me think how nice it would be if we could have a similar type of surgery applied to the government itself, along with radical applications of liposuction as well.

 

Good post and very accurate....

 

Very well written - it's not just a case of 'putting down the fork and going for a walk' .... as you explained, there's a lot of factors involved and everyone are individual cases - no 2 people are alike........

 

You're absolutely right on!

 

In the vast majority of cases, people are fat because they eat too much. The people who have the 'fat' gene are few and far between.

 

Some people get drunk off one drink. Others can drink a case and remain quite sober.

Some people can avoid workouts for months at a time and still run a 7 minute mile. Others have to train 4 times a week to get that fast.

Everyone has different genetic factors that we have to work with to accomplish our goals. Just because it is easier for some people to stay thin doesn't mean that the other people can't, it just means they have to put more effort into it. In almost every case, genetics is just a scapegoat.

 

With this thread's OP suggestion, the state should also not pay ANYTHING for medical costs from all of the following, optional ways to cause personal injury and medical costs:

Skiing
Snowboarding
Any recreational sports other than running or exercise machines.
Sexual diseases
Alcohol related diseases.
Car accident injuries if you do not fasten your safety belt.
Car accident injuries if you are speeding or breaking any other laws.


And does anyone really think that there is not more issues at work inside people than simple laziness, to live with the kind of carp and condemnation obese people get from some of people who think obesity is "so easy"?

Especially I notice the people who have the loudest mouths in this issue are the ones who never even consider using their OWN willpower to stop the garbage that EXITS their mouth, which would nicely redefine themselves as no longer having one of the most incurable and miserable conditions inflicting mankind - being jerks.

 

And of course, you have all the proof you need that the above is absolutely true b/c you say so?

 

True about depression. I take a medication named Cymbalta. Since I am now legally disabled by SSA, my pain caused me depression about 10 yrs. ago, maybe longer.

I am not obese but when I first was put on prednizone and started on Cymbalta, my appetite increased. It was very subtle but I did gain over 20 lbs in the first year. I am about 10 lbs overweight, but I never put a heavy set person down.

It's not the governments business to pay for any cosmetic surgery. If a person wants gastric banding and can afford it, it may make them happier than to fight dieting. It's not as easy as some people say it is.

 

Isn't it common sense? Fat people are fat because they eat too much. If they didn't eat so much, they wouldn't be fat.
SOME people might have a gene that makes them gain weight, but I highly doubt the majority of fat people can use that as an excuse.

 

You either have tax payer funded medical procedures or you do not.

I know people who are capable of having babies who have had their IVF subsidise. When they said they fell pregnant through IVF I absolutely gave them a mouthful of vile diatribe which has seen the couple not speak to me for 3 years but I just find it absolutely unacceptable that couples who can conceive naturally get IVF treatment and susidised by the tax payer to boot.

So if we go by your idea Makkedde then no surgery for people who smoke and get lung dieseases, no help for people who drink hard and get liver problems, and no help for people who just exericse to hard or play sports to hard and need assistance.

You need to make up your mind. If you want everyone to pay for their own medical costs then okay (I would ask you to go and research Americas medical structure but, as they already have that situation). But you can not have some pay for it and some get subsidised.

 

Yes, it should be paid for by the governement.

Why? First off, yes, I know that those folks in need of the surgery only have themselves to thank for. But, I also think smokers need to have all their medical problems paid out for them? Why? Because they paid an enormous amount of tax in their lives -- way more than the surgery would ever cost. That is the economical perspective.

The human perspective is, that you help everybody you can.

Anyhow, those overweight folks should get their surgery paid for them, since it would help them on the path to a normal life. Note that I'm speaking of really severe cases, not of some folks who aren't happy with how they look -- but about people who really need it.

Which is why I would set-up a system, in which a "board" of let's say 3 doctors need to agree that a person is in need of the surgery or that it would "increase the quality of live enormously" or something like that.

 

I think that not only should government pay for gastric banding, but it should mandatory for everyone who is obese - if they want to fall under the government healthcare program. If they opt-out of government provided healthcare, then they can choose to live however they wish, but if taxpayers are paying their medical bills, they should be forced to stay as healthy as possible and losing weight is one way to do so. They should also refrain from smoking, tightly limit their drinking and avoid any other risky behaviors.

If you wish to live however you wish, opt-out of public healthcare and pay for your own coverage.

 

Smokers pay a lot of tax on their cigarettes, so, as much as I detest them, they should have medical treatment if they become ill. They've more than paid for their medical treatment.
But do fat people pay a lot of tax on fattening foods? And do they pay as much in tax as smokers do? The answer would be no. So fat people should not be entitled to any such treatment - especially not government funded.

 

I don't think it should be paid by the government. What for? Have some self control over yourself. If you have a slow metabolism, recognize it and eat less. If you want another helping of food, then be responsible for yourself and have the commitment to go for walk or exercise. I eat whatever I want and I am normal body weight. Why? Because I go to the gym at least 3 times a week and lift weights and run on top of that. I'm nowhere near a "hard body" or have 6 pack abs, but I like to eat what I like and eat it. But I don't want to be fat so I work out a lot.

I'm not sold on the "fat gene" I am sold on the fact that people have become very lazy.

Last point, why should we pay for this surgery when I see these celebrities who have it end up just as big as they were before the surgery. It's a complete waste of money...oh wait, then I am for the government paying for it. We don't waste nearly enough money.