I am going nuts with BC/BS of Iowa!!!!!!!!!

We already got "pre approval" from BC/BS of Iowa for the WLS, but now my husband's employer is switching from a PPO to an EPO & it is looking like we may not be covered, at least at this hospital. In the benefits guide my Dr. is covered & the hospital is also, but it is looking like they will not cover bariatric surgery unless it is a center of excellence, which Genesis where I go is not as of yet. I'm soooo freaked out. U of I is covered which is only a little bit farther than Genesis, but I have already started the process at Genesis. ARRRRRRRGH! I have been on the phone twice with them & cannot get a straight answer.

Now sure how far you want to go, I know my hospital is a center for excellence, Satori in Cedar Falls. I think Des Moines is too, I personally fell in love with my doctor, Dr. Glas**** though and he is at Satori. Good Luck!

Well, I got a striaight answer & its not a good one It will not be covered unless I have it done this year. Because our hospital is not a COE I will either have to have it done this year or go to Iowa City. Well I talked to the financial coordinator & the director at the bariatric center, and the director said it's no problem, we can get it done before the end of the year, but on the financial side I have to come up with almost $3000 quick. My husband & I are going to apply for a personal loan & see if maybe my mom can help or what not, so if all of you can pray that things will come through for me I'd really appreciate it. Looks like this might be a blessing in disguise, I might get a very nice Christmas presant!

One other thing you might want to check out is if any after care will be covered when your insurance changes. What if you have complications that go into the new year and the new insurance? I know when I went in for my follow up appts at 1 mo, 2 mo, etc, the lab work alone was around $500. I would hate to see your insurance company stick you with those bills.

Oh My...I am glad to hear that they can get you in this year! The group at Genesis is AWESOME! Dr. Christopherson is my Surgeon!! I also have BC/BS and have had a wonderful experience with them. I hope it works out for you...I know the 3g's was hard to come up with..I had to have $5g's. You are right here in my back yard! I was just at Genesis today visiting another who had surgery yesterday and will be there next week to visit another new 'loser!'. I hope you get your date and everything works out...keep us posted!! Laura aka ZEN

Everything is looking good, we got a personal loan for the OOP expenses & my psych eval is on Monday. Theresa says that we can get everything done this year. Dr. Christopherson will also be my surgeon. Do you go to any of the support group meetings? I was thinking about going this month. It looks like my surgery may be on Dec. 18th if all goes as planned.

I went to one, but now it clashes with my schedule. By January I should be able to go again. I am glad that Dr. C is getting you in before they switch. He is a doll!! Young, but extremely talented!! I post on another WLS board and met a few others from Genesis there. I don't often check this site, but will try to more now that my schedule is getting lighter. Are you excited? Dec. 18th isn't that far off...

Yes, I am getting very excited, nervous though, everything is happening so fast, we hadn't planned to have surgery until March, but with the insurance deal we had to get it done or start all over again in Iowa City. What is the other board you post on, I would love to meet others from Genesis.

I post on www.thinnertimesforum.com. It was started for a group out in CA by their Surgeon and his support group. It has since gone Global. I know of two other Genesis women there. I stayed for the information that I found there, and the people grew on me. When I started out I had a million questions and I found the answers there and here. I log as Zenomia there...

i fell for you it took me 4v years from start to surgery date first i was here in boone then sunberg left to grimell and i think that was a good thing i was not comfortabul with him so i found a new dr Dr Eibes and i love them all there thay answerd all ? totaly and i belive he is going or has his excellence rating i had a open rny but my bmi was 68 and thay all were like aaaaaaa but 6and a half hours after surgery im out of icu in my own room and that thrusday i was home so go with who makes you fell good that you ins will cover and good luck prays and huggs steve