Medi-Cal in California

Right now I'm on my county's low income health program, but starting in January I will be on Medi-Cal. Thank you Obamacare! I want to have the DS surgery and have known this for a few years now. I am hoping that with Medi-Cal it will finally become possible. Other than emailing bariatric surgeons in California who perform the DS and asking if they accept Medi-Cal, is there another way I can find out who accepts it? I've tried Googling up the info and have looked around OH for a list, but could not find anything.

I know Medi-Cal previously did not cover DS.  Do they now all the sudden?

I'm really new here but I also have medical. I called medical last week and asked if they cover WLS and they said yes,! How excited I was when she told me that.

i don't know what DS means but they told me I will first have to make an appointment with my primary doctor and tell him I need a referral for gastric bypass. I'm done those steps all ready just waiting on approval or my 6 month weight loss that some times medical has you do..

The DS is the Duodenal Switch. There's a message board specifically for that surgery here on OH. If you want to check it out, here's a quick link. You can also check out dsfacts.com to learn more about the surgery. They have a list comparing the DS to the RNY too that is really good to read. 

Did you get approved by medical yet?

I won't actually be on Medical until the first of the year, so it'll be a while until I'm approved. The health plan I'm on now doesn't cover WLS, so luckily I'm getting switched over to Medical.

DS is short for Duodenal Switch.  It is a WLS.  I have a DS, and IMHO it is the surgery that is closest to natural anatomy, and most effective, especially for severe morbid obesity, which I was.  I have lost 257 pounds and maintained it with what I feel is minimal effort.  It has a very rigorous vitamin supplement regimen, at least to some, but that was easy for me too. That said, everyone must make their own individual choice about the surgery that is best for them.

To find out more about it, visit www.dsfacts.com, or do a search for Duodenal Switch.

 I am on disability (working at soon coming off!)  but my surgery was paid for by Medicare and my state's program.

Good luck on your search and on your weight loss journey.

does anyone know if Medi-cal covers lap band surgery? If so how does the process work?

I had my RNY  through Medi-Cal. When I had it they only covered the rny. No lap band or anything because they said the success rates were too low.  Which was fine with me because I wanted the RNY. They covered everything except the nutrition appts i had to go to, and the psych eval i had to do. those were out of pocket costs for me. Now I'm not sure what this "OBAMA" care will actually cover, I am still on regular medi-cal through Heath net insurance company.

I didn't know yet last year in October, but I ended up on Health Plan of San Joaquin through Medi-Cal. Not sure what that changes for me as opposed to just having straight Medi-Cal, but I figure there might be a few costs along the way. I'm signed up for a seminar in August with Dr. Coates (both Jr. and Sr.) & Dr. Coirin. Both Dr. Coates do the DS now, but Dr. Coririn does not. I haven't heard or found anyone else around here that does the DS (except for Dr. Rabkin in SF).