katiegirl1227

**katiegirl1227** · 03-03-2013 05:32 PM

hello everyone

im the new girl on the block. I have a question im hoping someone can answer I went to a seminar and then had a consult with the surgeon last Monday they said my insurance covers this surgery and told me what I would have to do. they didn't tell me what they would pay. according to the book its only 10,000.00 but then it says I need a doctors referral it sounds like they might pay more. then the doctor made another apt for may. so im confused why didn't he make appt for the dietician or the physic doc. how long does this take and can my insurance tell me what I might have to pay? im just excited to get this all started so if anyone can help or have answers I would very much appreciate it. thank you and have a good day.

**Craya559** · 03-03-2013 05:54 PM

It took me a year to get here I had to first get my doctor to refer me to my sergyn then I had to have an endoscopy Pap smear blood work menomitry test and a phycologicsl evaluation and see the dietician so they can explain what diet will consist of after sergery

**Craya559** · 03-03-2013 05:57 PM

Oh ya and I would have had surgery in September but I had to go back and do a 6 month doctor monitored diet plan to show that I have tried to lose weight on my own before surgery also my insurance never would tell me what they would cover but as of now I haven't paid anything other than co payment for my appointments but I barely had surgery Wednesday

**katiegirl1227** · 03-03-2013 06:02 PM

craya 559 thank you for your help. and good luck on your journey.

**becca72** · 03-03-2013 06:19 PM

call your insurance and find out EXACTLY what you need to qualify. I did, and I got everything that I could do out of the way (collecting records from previous weight loss attempts, weigh-ins from previous PCP visits) even before my first consult with the surgeon. I had my first meeting with him Aug.8, 2011 and had all of my psych appts, EGD, and all pre-op done following my consult with him and then had surgery on Sept.7...not even a month later. The surgeon contributed the fast turn around because of the homework and leg work that I did to get the ball rolling.

**katiegirl1227** · 03-03-2013 06:29 PM

becca 72 thank you so much for your help. and congratulations on your weight loss.

**marilynlw** · 03-03-2013 06:42 PM

All doctors and insurance companies differ so you need to make a couple of calls to get all the answers you need. First to the insurance company to find out exactly what and how much they pay and the requirements. Next to the surgeons office to find out just what they require before surgery. The doctor will what to run different test depending on your medical history, and the more tests the longer it will take. I am an older and had a long list of health issues so my doctor did a whole sh.. load of tests to insure I would be safe for surgery and only a very small risk. I love my surgeon and felt safe in his hands. When he shook my hand and said I was a good candidate and he would be glad to do my surgery I know everything would be fine and it was. I had no complications from the surgery. So glad I did it.