Help getting started...please :)

I am new to this and was given this website by my PCP just a few hours ago. PCP gave me a referal to EMORY but asked that I pick a doctor and call her with a name in the morning. I have NO idea what to expect or what is the next step after Emory gets the referal. I was told that EMORY has a LONG waiting list and I really want to get started as soon as possible. I have BCBS HMO....I have read that they are not paying after July 1.....has anyone heard of any exceptions? Any help or ideas would be great!

Not sure what to tell you about BCBS, but you are not far from me, (I'm in Duluth) and I used Obesity Solutions in Gainesville. The docs are WUNNERFUL! You may be able to get in there quicker. You do not HAVE to use the docs your PCP picks. Mine referred me to Emory as well, but I used Obesity Solutions cuz I knew someone that used them and were very pleased. I DID want to come on here and say HELLO!!!!!!!!!!! and WELCOME! We hope to see more of you here, and you will find MANY MANY wonderful people with lots of great support!! Good Luck!! Tami 340/195/??

Hi, K Welcome to the site - there is so much information here I know you will be reading posts on the message boards for hours I have no experience with BCBS but I too have heard that rumor about them stopping coverage for WL surgery. Best of luck to you Kia 284/216/155 ish

My wife and I were visiting the nurses that work with Dr. Procter at Obesity Solutions. We asked them about the BCBS rumor. They said that BCBS wants the surgeries scheduled AND completed by July 1. After that date, they are not planning to cover the surgeries. Then they said that your employer may have the option to add a "rider" to cover the surgery. I would suggest you talk with one of the insurance people at the doctor's office. When we were going thru our stuff, we dealt with Carrie Ann the whole time. She is at Dr. Procter's office and was extremely helpful. Good luck to you.

Hi I'm a state employee and after 07/01 the state will no longer provide WLS coverage on any of its insurance plans whi*****ludes BCBS. I am hoping to have the surgery b4 the cut off date. If your not a state employee I don't think this will affect you, but to make sure call your insurance company to see if they cover WLS but you may need a surgery code. The code can be obtained from the surgeon's office.

K, I am sure all plans and employers plans are different, but I have BCBS PPO and they told me they would stop covering the surgery as of 07/01; however the rep at BCBS told me that I only had to obtain the approval before the cut off date that the authorizations they give are good for one full year, even if they stop covering the procedure as long as you have the authorization. If I were you, I would call the insurance company and find out what the rules are for your policy. Then you might want to call the HR person at your employer and find out if they will get the rider, etc. I had my surgery at Emory and everything takes forever there, but I loved my surgeon and I have had no problems whatsoever since surgery. But if you are on a time crunch I would investigate other alternatives. There are lots of good surgeons in the area. Good luck to you!!! Kelly S