Staywell Insurance/ Tampa Surgery

I found this website so helpful and encouraging while I was looking for info on WLS with medicaid that I finally joined up. I live in Orlando, and I could not find a place near me for surgery. Mind you I am just beginning my process but this information may be helpful for someone else. I sent an email to Tampa General Hospital to find out if they took Staywell insurance. They do!!!! Yay!!! They are a center of excellence which is very important to me and they have a wonderful facility. I just wanted to post the information that they sent to me so that someone else would have the info and maybe be encourage to continue on the journey so here it is:

We do accept Staywell however, our Medical Obesity Specialist/Endocrinologist is still in credentialing so his appointment is out of pocket.  That visit is $115.  There are some out of pocket expenses but they are minimal and you learn what they are in the session.

The first step in our surgical program would be to attend our information session. It is an 90 minute session and we will go over the different surgery options available and how to be cleared for surgery through your insurance company and our program. The next step will be a Intake Wellness appointment with Dr. Robbins who is our Endocrinologist Obesity Specialist. Once he has evaluated you and has determined your plan of care for surgery he will refer you to the Wellness Assessment, this is a 4 hour visit with our interdisciplinary team to show your readiness for weight loss surgery. The Wellness Assessment will include a medical, nutritional and psychological assessment. This Wellness Assessment is not a billable appointment, therefore, it is an "out of pocket" expense. Once you have been cleared for surgery you will schedule your consultation with the surgeon and we will submit your information to your insurance company for an authorization. Once we receive the authorization we will call you with surgery date options. This process typically takes patients 3-6 months to complete.

You have 2 payment options for our program: Prompt Payment Discount of $499 at the time of scheduling your Wellness Assessment or the full price of $750 broken into payments($250 at time of scheduling Wellness Assessment, $250 on day of Wellness Assessment at check in and $250 on the day of Surgical Consultation at check in).

 GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!

What procedure are you interested in? 

Sorry it took so long to respond. I want to have either the RNY or the VSG. I was leaning toward the VSG because I thought that the weight would come off slower so I would not have as much saggy skin..... But who am I kidding I think it may be better all the way around to do  the RNY. 

I'm currently going through them. Hoping for a surgery date in November!! They are awesome! 

You may have ve to drive a little bit.. Because most surgeons don't require any fees. I am using a doctor in Ocala which is 2 hours from me. I have staywell and didn't have to pay anything out of pocket. Turned all my paper work and was apporved in a week.

Do you mind sharing who's the doctor and information? I'm currently trying to find one!

I don't mind driving at all. I am in Orlando. What doctor are you going to? Did they do the laproscopic?

Hi! Maybe this would help but Dr. Wiljon W. Beltre, from Altamonte spring takes Staywell and it's fully cover! Only you need to pay its $60 for the Nutritionist visit. I'm from Orlando too

Oh wow that is excellent. I am going to give them a call today as well. Thank you so much for the  info. Have you had your surgery already?

Not yet hun, but I'm on process. I have appt this upcoming Thursday! If you have IG follow me and you can send me any questions you got! @myvsgjourney2k17