I need some help....

What do I do if my Dr. won't give me a referral letter to the surgeon for wls?

Hi Kerry! If you have a PPO, you don't need one...schedule one yourself. If you have an HMO, change PCPs. Why won't your PCP give you a referral? Sherry Open RNY 02/04/04 (Proximal-75 cm) 294.5/214/150 -80.5#

Hello~ My name is Jesi and I was in your shoes.....I will tell you what I did! I have a HMO, and they will not refer you for WLS, because they don't want to pay for it.....none of the doctors I saw would do anything to help me with my weight......I got sick of it and I called BTC.....Now they are called Barix clinics.....For a consult, the first appt is $100, then they will tell you if you need the surgery and get started with your insurance, fighting, approving, writing letters etc! I paid the $100 and went , of course I needed the surgery and they sent all of the stuff to my insurance.....my insurance called me right away and said they do not work with BTC, and how come I went there....blah blah blah.....I tiold them I was serious about my weight and health and I needed to go were someone would help me.....They told me I could NOT go to BTC, they would not pay, but they would refer me to Iowa City......I went to Iowa City..... got all my stuff done, and then my insurance approved me with them! I had surgery at UIHC on Dec8th, I am down 112lbs!!! If your PCP won't refer because of policy reasons try to go out on your own....find out how much a CONSULT is, in the surrounding areas, you can always call the bariartric center at U of I and see if they deal with your insurance and start from there.....Best of luck Jesi

Kerry, Sorry that I cannot help. My doctor referred me in a heart beat - and I didn't think that he would. (Now he just grins every time he sees me.) Prayers going out your way that God sees you through this journey. God bless, Andrea