Public Aid Questions....

Hello Everyone..... Im going to try to make a very long story short here, so please bear with me, I have lost 2 jobs(had these jobs for 8 yrs.) in the last month due to chronic headaches/migraines that I have been dealing with the past 2 years since Ive gained 110 lbs. Ive suffered from them all of my life, but they have been chronic since ive gained all of this weight. Since I have lost my job, I have lost my insurance. I was just at the point of having my first surgeon Apt. with Dr. Marshall with the Peoria Surgical Consultants affiliated with OSF in Peoria. I didnt go since come July 30th, I will no longer have medical ins. I have never been on public aid, im not even sure if that is what everyone is calling "medicaid"-sorry for my ignorance, but now im just lost. Im not sure which way to go. WLS has been on the back burner of course since im trying to get unemplyment ins. going, and get prescription cards for my meds.....etc......but I feel like my journey with WLS is at a stand still now and do not know what direction to take. Does anyone have any advice for me and could help me as to where to turn or what avenues I could take? I would appreciate any help or ideas. Currently, my BMI is 42.3, Im a 41 yr. old single mom and my only co-morbidities at this time are borderline HBP-HIGH CHOLESTRAL-GERD. I am on meds for HBP and GERD. I am also on meds for depression and meds for migrianes and am being treated at the Diamond Headache Clininc in Chicago. That is my most severe problem, migraine/headache pain. I am interested in lap RNY. Thanks everyone for your time and help.

public aid will cover gastric bypass if you are 100 lbs or more overweight. Or have severe co-morbidities if your bmi is 40 or less. It has to also be pre-approved through them, but from what I've been seeing, approval time is less than a week from most cases. I'm going to Dr. Oliphant in Urbana, he accepts the medical card, also SIU School (COMP Clinic) accepts, also Dr. Marshall in Peoria. Dr. Eagon in St. Louis(LONGGGG WAIT though, FYI, like call back in 2006 or something like that), Dr. Ray in Indiana(cant remember where in Indiana, Evansville I think), there are more up north I'm just not sure of all of them. Someone else could probably help you out there. Anyone, if ANY of my information is wrong to Karen, please correct me. I dont want to tell her something wrong..lol

Karen you should have no problem getting Medicaid/public aid/IPA they will cover the surgery as Lora said. I think here is a new Doctor in Chicago that takes Medicaid too but not sure who he is. Other than that here is out list... IF you find a Doctor that isnt on our list please let us know so we can update it. Dr. Shayani In maywood.... he only does the Lap Band and he requires you to go to one support group meeting then will schedule a consult he moves pretty fast. 708-327-2899 (hint after you go to the first meeting call his office 2 days later you'll get in faster) Dr. Oliphant in Urbana he moves slower you have to call his office for a packet fill it out send it back in and you'll hear from them for an appointment in a few months I think he's currently scheduling for January/February. 217-383-3240 RNY only The surgeon at the COMP clinic at SIU they require a $260 up front to cover things that medicaid wont (which is BS cause you can go to a nutritionist for free through any hospital wellness program) and then 10-20 for nutritionist appointments and support group costs too. (217) 545-COMP Open RNY only There's a surgeon in Bloomington Indiana that just got Illinois Public Aid providership. His name is Dr. Bradley Ray 812-330-9962 LAP Band Only I didnt know about dr. Wagner in Peoria hopefully someone will have the number for that one so I can update the list. I wouldnt even bother with the surgeon at Barnes Dr. Eagon he has a waiting list till 2008 for medicaid patients. Good Luck and please let us know if you find one not on this list or if your told one of them on this list no longer accepts it. Debby

Dr. Frederick Tiesenga in River Forest. He just started accepting public aid. To get into the consult with him you will have to go to an informational meeting and get a packet. In the packet will be papers for you to fill out. You will need an upper GI, Gallbladder U/S(If you still have it), Psych Eval, Sleep Study (IF NEEDED), nutritionist consult ($75 OOP) You also have to write an essay explaining how YOU think the surgery is and how it is going to go. You have to explain WHY you need the surgery. (This all gets sent to the insurance company) With your weight and co-morbs you shouldn't have a problem being approved. I have my consult with Dr. T on the 28th. I'll be here to post how it goes. It seems like a long list of stuff you have to do just to get in to see him, but you have to show you want it and NEED it. KWIM? Good Luck! And Debby...add him to the list! Melissa

Thanks Melissa I added him...

It's afew days later from when you posted this question, but I met ayoung lady who was on public aid and she had her surgery done at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's medical center. So try there and Cook County. It is being covered,but ther is a waiting list. Hope the info helps some.

Hello, I aplied to Public Aid and they basicly told me that I can walk and Talk and there is no reason that They can see why I would need public aid. I am 40 years old my BMI is 42.3, I suffer from HBP,GERD,ASTHMA,MIGRAINS,DEPRESSION, AND UNBELEIVABLE JOINT PAIN. ALL this and I was denied,i was even sent to a phsyc to be eval. and still denied. Go figure! I am not trying to descourage you I am just being honest. But please go and try to aply at Public Aid and let me know. I am on the waiting list at Cook County Hospital(Now known as STROGERS HOSPITAL) the Dr. there is Dr. Madura and he also works out of RUSH and he said if I get Public Aid he can take me at RUSH. I do wish you all the luck. I think I am going to aply at Public Aid again. My friend said she heard that you can aply on line now i will check it out and let you know. I wish you a most peacful and blessed day. c

Hi Karen, Good luck to you and I wish you a happy healthy future. Public Aid also known as the IL Dept of Human Services is well known for denying people services because they don't ask the right questions. If you go into the office they will ask you what you're applying for. If you say "public aid", they will assume you mean cash assistance, food stamps, and a medical card. They will deny you cash if you don't have children under 18. They may grant food stamps based on your unemployment amount(but if you have 401k or 403b they will make you ca**** out and exhaust that money before they give you benefits). When you go if you dont need the cash or food stamps, apply for only a medical card(medicaid card). They will ask if you are disabled. Tell them yes. Take along your unemployment office papers, that little card that tells how much you get weekly, and your cobra papers. They will ask for medical records and may send you to their doctor for evaluation. Always downplay what you have. Tell them you dont get child support. Tell them you have no savings, no car, and if you rent make up an obsurd amount(the higher your rent/mortgage the more food stamps you receive)(they figure if you can't pay your rent at least you wont starve to death). If your child is under 18 they should grant you a full medical card to cover medical, dental, vision, chiro, and prescriptions. If your child is over 18 they will give you a medical card that covers everything EXCEPT hospitalization. Also don't mention the surgery. They are sure to deny you, especially since the big write up in the SunTimes. I hope this was of help to you. Don't let them discourage you. Another word of advice. I learned from a nurse in a doctors office that drs only schedule so many medicaid patients a month. They have quotas. Don't get discouraged if they make you wait forever. Tammy

What write up in the suntimes?