Illinois Medicaid-HELP!!!

I am one of the millions of people that work and don't have health insurance that is provided by my employer. After doing reach on AMOS I decided to call Dr. Frantzides for a consultation. I was in complete shock when I was told that he requires Medicaid patients to pay $6,500 upfront???!!!???? Does anyone know of any other options or any other physicians that accept this form of insurance without the hefty fee???

I do not know where you are at in Illinois, but I am going to Dr. Glas**** in Cedarfalls, Iowa. They accept Illinois medicaid. There is no fee to pay. I live on the Iowa Border and Cedarfalls is about 3 hours from me. Shelli

Thanks!!!

you may want to check with other Medicaid providers and see what their requirements are. I am going to Dr. Tiesenga and he requires nothing up front. The only thing I had to pay was a $2.00 copay! Here is a list of other surgeons(taken from Debby G's profile): I was asked to add the current list of IL PA surgeons with some info about my approval. My surgeon required all my tests done before he would see me, so how long you get yours done is up to you, each surgeon has his own routine so how long this can take vary. I had everything done within 2 weeks!!! It took 3 weeks for my surgery consult. They submitted my pre auth. the next day. Public Aid came back 4 days later and said I was approved... ( dancing in the streets eating everything I knew I couldnt ever have again!!!) 4 weeks before my surgery date I was notified that my Psych eval was rejected because "I was not released for surgery"... So we re-wrote it and re-submitted it. Once PA actually got the psych eval I was approved ok. That was on Dec.10 (whew talk about cutting it close) Ok before I go on and on here is a list of known surgeons that take IL PA. If you find anyone else please let me know so I can update this list!!! ***New surgeon in Iowa Dr. Matt Glass**** Cedar Falls, IA 319-268-3994 getting IPA approval. If you call him and he has not received his IPA providership yet or they tell you NO they are not getting it please let me know so I can get him off this list. He's Tim's surgeon and Tim started out at 600lbs and was able to have it done Laproscopically.. HOW FANTASTIC IS THAT!!!! 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 Dr. Maillefer Dekalb Clinic 217 Franklin Street Dekalb, Illinois 60115 815-758-8671 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 surgeons at the COMP clinic at SIU they require a $260 up front to cover things that medicaid wont ??? and then 10-20 for nutritionist appointments and support group costs too. (217) 545-COMP Open RNY only Dr. Frederick Tiesenga in River Forest. (708) 386-1078 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) He is now doing only 2 IPA surgeries a month. 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 Psyc Eval _ you have to apply for a grant to pay for it, grant is based on income. Georgeann Russell 708 763 2120 Hinsdale Hospital Dr. Dillon (the surgeon currently doing wls does not) but he takes Medicare

wow, you have really done your research! thanks

Hi! I too have medicaid and I am pre-op at CORI Centers right there in Harvey. They are located in the hospital suite 101. The only thing that I have had to pay for is my psych eval and that was only $125 with a dr. they suggested. Other than that I have paid notta. Let me know if you have any other questions! GOOD LUCK!

Thanks I'll look into that!!

Don't freak out. I have medicaid and a ppo plan thru my job. my first health plan didnt approve dr alverdy to do my duodenal switch because he is not part of the "bariatric surgery network" they came up with 2 days after getting my auth letter. So I had dr alverdys office send the same letter to public aid. my auth letter says they got the request on may 25th. they approved it on June 8th. I dont have to pay anything upfront and I don't have to do anything special before surgery.

THANKS!! check your email!

I'm n ot sure where harvey is but my dr is out of ENH like dr fratzides, dr denham.