Hospital and surgeon info needed

Hello everyone. I just joined this site, I think it will be very helpful for me in my quest to have wls. I would like anyone out there who can give me some advice/info regarding good surgeons that operate at any of the HCA facilities in Houston Texas, or some where close. I have a surgeon that I really like and trust, but my current employer which is a HCA Hospital, has Aetna PPO as the insurance carrer and they have a rule that they will cover wls but it has to be done at a HCA facility and I am assuming it must be done by an HCA doctor. (The plan description does not say that it must be an HCA doctor, but I am sure that is what they mean.) My surgeon is contracted with Aetna but not with any of the HCA facilities. So I must choose another surgeon that is with HCA. The only MD that I have heard of is a Michael Storey and I have heard he has a high rate of complications. I would like to have some choice in who does my surgery. So HELP.......................................................................... you can post to the message board or e-mail me at [email protected]. Thanks LaFonda

Hi LaFonda and welcome to OH! The best place to look for a surgeon is here: http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/professionals/find-professional.php?type=46 Click on Texas and look through the surgeons. While clicking on the names you can find links to the profiles of various members who have used that surgeon. That's how I found my doctor - reading profiles and people's different opinions. Then I talked to the hospital where my choosen doctor practiced to see what they had to say. I also emailed patients from their profiles to get their opinion as well. As to your insurance, I'd give them a call and see exactly what is needed for you to be able to have surgery and what doctor's participate with them. It might not have to be a HCA doc. But you won't know until you ask. Good luck on your research! Tina http://www.wls.tinakulesa.com 315/268/140