I did have that conversation with my surgeon offices today and they had told me that Aetna and Cigna where OK to work with and that BCBS can be a little harder to deal with down the road if revisions need to be done ??

ask the doctor's insurance coordinator to see who they work with and pays  best

Just had my surgery with Dr. Schoen about 3 weeks ago.    I think he's great.....you need to remember that you are going to a teaching hospital and as he reminded me on at least 3 occasions, you'll probably know more about your surgery than his interns so if you don't feel their answer is correct........keep asking.    The only complaint I have and it had nothing to do with him is that they do a cattle call (ii.e. there must have been 20 people there to have some sort of surgery) in the morning of the surgery and it became overwhelming with everyone asking me a million questions, and the slow start and then hurry up/rush to get into the OR room.      

Again, I really liked Dr. Schoen and his staff.  

Hello,

I have my own company and I am in charge of our group health care coverage at the current time we have Cigna, I was planning to have RNY the first of the year after I finished my 6 month pre op weight loss program. Due to cir****tances out of my control I will no longer have Cigna and will have to select another insurance provider...Can you let me know the good or bad with the Insurance company's you have dealt with during your WLS journey. Another FYI is that I live in Colorado and had planned on having Dr. Schoen at UCH do my RNY, so I hope that I can make it all work out. Thanks again !

I had my surgery with Dr. Schoen on September 7, 2007.  He is fantastic, very helpful and very kind.   Lisa his nutritionist is great.  Kelly, whose class is required by Dr. Schoen, is not in the office but her class is helpful.  Though, if you need more information than is provided in the class, be prepared to pay a hefty hourly rate, that in my case is not covered by insurance, so I was unable to go. 

I plateaued very early, at about six months, and needed additional help to deal with emotional losses, my mom died and my husband had surgery all in the same week last September.  I thought my surgery would keep me from eating through the stress, but it didn't.  I gained weight and by the time I was able to ask for help, I didn't find it either in the doctor's office and actually, haven't had any responses to my call for help from this forum either, but I can understand that.  No one in our situation wants to hear about set backs or weight gain.  However, be aware that it can be a reality.  This is a tool and can only do so much.  When you plateau, it can be very hard to get back on track.  And if you are undergoing a massive amount of stress, like I was, that plateau can be a gain.  I lost about 95 pounds at the 6 month mark.  I've gained back 25 of those pounds in the last year since my mother died.  Dealing with stress and stress eating is still a problem for us.  Surgery is only a part of the answer and I'm having to relearn everything just as I did before my surgery.

The biggest piece of advice I can give you is to go to the support group.  I didn't go because I live in Firestone and didn't want to make the drive to the Garfield clinic.  Also, the one time I did go to the support group it was not a good time as there was one woman who, rightfully, was very proud of herself and her loss, but didn't allow other to get in a word edgewise.  I know that I had lots of questions and wanted to hear from other patients but was unable to.

Anyway, Dr. Schoen is a wonderful surgeon and I liked him very much.  I wish the best for you and hope your surgery is great.  If I could do it all again, I would and I would choose Dr. Schoen.  He is the best.