New Here & Need Info on Voc Rehab

Hello, I'm a 20 year old college student and with no health ins, but looking for voc rehab to help me get this surgery. Has anyone else been thru them? My doctor suggested me to look into voc rehab.

I live in Hillsbrough county and I was told by them that they're no longer covering the surgery from 3 local offices in Tampa. I read your profile and see you live in the Brandon area and that is a part of Hillsbrough county. Best Luck to ya cause you're going to need it with them. Ps. They weren't helpful for me. Amber

I'm in hillsbrough county too and have an appointment with them on Tuesday July 5.... I attended their orientation and was set up with an appointment with a counselor... I'm hoping they can help me, because this is my last hope. As far as i know, I was told by my primary care physcian that they were still doing that cause he has two other patients going through them.

Oh really? See this is what i'm talking about, they help who they want to help! I went to both of the offices in Hillsbrough, and they tell me they're no longer doing this surgery because people would get it done and never get a job! On top of that, I know a lady who lives in my area and is going to get her surgery and has already been approved. What is wrong with this pic? I think i need to hire me a lawyer! Amber

Humm all of this is news to me. According to my surgeon that does Voc Rehab operations. They are still doing the WLS. Go to Dr. Haickens website and ask question there. I had mine done 1 year ago. I know of several others that are new post-ops that voc rehab had paid for.

I was trying to go through Voc Rehab and they would have paid for my surgery but I could not prove a one year supervised diet. So they would pay for a year of Nutritionist/physical therapist/psch dr Therapy before they would do the surgery. I am impatient so I just borrowed the money. So if you can prove diet (like DR or weigh****chers or something like that and not something you did on your own) then they will most likely pay for it. My suggestion to you is to keep calling them because my counselor said they have lots of people and he admits that they sometimes "forget people if they are not persistant". Good luck it'll be worth it in the end.

as far as i know they are no longer doing it in pinellas and hillsborough county through voc rehab. I have a friend who works for them and they do not have it in there budget anymore and plus people in the past would promise to get a job etc. etc.. and would not fullfill that in the end. So they stopped covering it. I could be wrong but the best way to find out is to be persistant. best of luck to ya..

I am in Pasco county and just had my surgery on May 13 2005. Voc Rehab paid for my surgery and I am following all the steps they require. I do not know about the hillsborough county stopping paying for it if that is the case that is truely a sad thing. With out this surgery I had no hope of going back to work. Now I do although it will take me a little longer then the normal person as I have to have an ankle surgery first. Voc rehab was aware of this fact and still helped me. I hope you find that they will help you. My surgeon was Dr Haicken he is located in Largo and I would recommend him to everyone he is a great and caring surgeon. Linda R

They just can't pick and choose counties. This is a federally funded program admin. by the state of Florida. If you can prove your case and willing to go to work once your treatment is over they will cover it. The key Willing....... Some people just let go of the closed lifestyle that they have lead for years. Feel free to e-mail me and I will offer you m y phone number. Like insurance they do require for it to be medically necessary and you have to have dieted for 1 year and failed. If you sre working . Obesity must effect you ability to perform your duties to the fullest. Again YOU MUST Prove this. Don't call them on the phone and ask "DO YOU COVER THE GASTRIC BYPASS". They will each and everytime tell you know. The surgery will cost the state around 20,000.00 for each person that gets it. So yes it can run their funds down quickly. You have to stay on top of them for the surgery and don't accept "NO". If they tell you they are not covering the surgery then confirm it by calling Tallahassee. The number is in their handbook that they give you. You can also go online to their website and check out their handbook. Best of Luck.