Any Denver/Kaiser INfo?

Hello, I was approved by Kaiser fairly quickly but now it has been very quiet for about six months. I read online on the Insurance forum that others have moved through the program very quickly. I really need some kind of date/time frame for my supervisor. I told her it would be a year and now??? Does anyone have any experience with the Kaiser in Denver? Thanks in advance, kkm

I was approved in January by Kaiser - that simply puts you on the waiting list. When I talked to Helen at Kaiser she said to plan on enrolling in the mandatory 12 week pre-op class a year from your approval date and to be having surgery about 18 months from approval. It doesn't really do any good to call them and ask if they have a time frame because that is all they will tell you. They added more of the classes, so they say they can get through the waiting list faster. I guess the biggest issue is that there are only 3 Kaiser surgeons in Colorado. So, welcome to the waiting list. I find that by focusing on getting as healthy as possible pre-operatively I don't get as frustrated. But I am with you.... I want to be on the losing side ASAP... this waiting is a pain. Hang in there.

Hi Karen! I was initially approved by Kaiser back in January 2003 when I met with someone in the weight management department. They were in the process of changing over their program right when I became involved with it so they told me to just hang tight until I heard some news. I waited and waited for a really long time. In August of 2003 I finally heard that there was finally a new program in place and that I would have to wait until hearing back from them. Then, I got a letter in January saying that I was in a group of people that would need to take the Surgery Connections class once it was offered. Then, they sent a letter saying that I had to sign up for the 12-week Surgery Connections class. When I attended the first class on April 29th, they told us to expect to have the surgery within 6 months of that first class date. We just finished the class (me and 18 others) and I just found out that they are sending me to the one doctor that Kaiser has contracted with outside of Kaiser named Dr. Tom Brown. The good news there is that he is the only Kaiser (contracted) doctor that does laproscopy. I just found that out today, actually. So it's a long road but now it is finally coming to fruition. I really got a lot out of the surgery connections class. In fact, I've lost 23 pounds since I started. Watch this board, because as soon as I have a surgery date, I will let everyone know. Good luck and hang in there, Paul

Hi, Karen! I signed up with the Kaiser Weight Management Program in July 2003. They told me about the 12 week classes I would have to attend once I was accepted. They told me that would be up to 2 years or more... Geesh! But, to my surprise, I got a letter in March 2004! I just finished my classes last week. I got a call yesterday telling me that Dr. Brown's (Kaiser's contracted surgeon that does laproscopic surgery) nurse would be giving me a call to schedule everything. Well, she called me this morning! My consult is on Aug 4th...and my surgery is on Sept 27th. The classes helped me out BUNCHES! You are in there with people that are in the same boat as you...you will learn a lot and make new friends in the process. Good luck to you...hopefully you will not have to wait very long! Take care and God Bless! Mary