Does anyone have any info that might be helpful ?
I've been reasearching WLS for about 6 months, and I realise the importance of knowing for sure that you've tried everything else. Now I am encountering one disapointment after another with my insurance. The ladies in the pre-cert dept have been wonderful with giving me the information about which Dr.s and Hospitals that are in my network, but so far the ones that I am really considering as possible options are either so book that I cant even get an information packet mailed out until Oct...or one or the other is not a participating provider of CHA Ins. Does anyone have any recomendations? I am waiting on some information on Wesley J ALexander in Cincinnatti Ohio and he does the procedure at Christ Hospital. I would appreciate any help anyone could give me about this matter... Thanks Debbie
Hi, I don't know how far from Lexington you are but have you considered dr. Nighbert or Steiner at the Center for weight loss surgery at St. Joe East. I don't remember the number right now but the hospital number is 859-268-1000. I think. Anyway just call directory assist for the hospital number then ask for the center for weight loss surgery. I believe they do take cha. Good luck.
TERESA G.
on 9/1/03 8:59 am
on 9/1/03 8:59 am
Hey Debbie, I have CHA-Commonwealth Administrators and I had surgery 07-16-2003 at the Georgetown Hospital in Georgetown, KY. It is right off 1-75, just north of Lexington. You can contact the Hospital staff who works with Dr. Weiss and Dr. Oldham at 502-863-6809 or Dr. Weiss office is 502-867-6744. They are both located in the same office, but have two different numbers. My insurance is paying 90% of the cost and I pick up the other 10% which is about $3,000.00. But, my insurance also has it that I do not pay out more than $1,000.00 so that will be my final cost.
You will have to go to a seminar to get the information and I know that they are scheduling people now for the next.
The surgery is none laprascopicly (spelling?) and he does two types. RNY Gastric by-pass and Lap Banding. At this time he has had no deaths, a big plus in my book.
The Hospital is in the process of building a new wing onto the Hospital just for him and I heard that the ICU is almost ready.
They have great support group meetings and I have just been thrilled with my progess.
Good luck on your search......Teresa
I am PRE-op, but I'm with Teresa...these two guys are phenomenol. I just love everything about their program. Everyone cares, from the insurance coordinator, Catherine, to their program director, nurse, etc.
One thing you might want to know about St. Joe's program...they require you pay several thousand up front, so if you don't have that kind of money laying around, you may want to call and talk to them.
Good luck, Debra!
Kat in berea
Dr. James Anderson, an endocrinologist and researcher for weight loss at UK called me an ambassador for Dr's Weiss and Oldham because the very week of the surgery I went in to see him just to show him what a good job they did!
I am 4 weeks out and have lost 35 lbs total (10 the week before). I had a couple of problems with my intestines getting blocked and instead of letting me suffer forever they were aggressive and did another surgery to correct the problem, plus took my gallbladder out (which they'd discovered full of stones). So, I had two surgeries in one month.
I remember from their last seminar that are in network providers for all insurances right now. Plus, there is about a 3 month total process from start (seminar) to finish (surgery). Others I called in KY were not so good.
Someone who had been to one of the seminars for Dr. Nighbert and his associate said they did start taking some insurances now, but didn't know whether or not they still required money up front. They did not accept my insurance in May (or any insurance I think) and required about $6,000 payment in advance, so I looked for other options. I am quite pleased with my choice.
If it helps, Dr. Anderson is sending the patients he refers to Dr. Steiner for now, since Dr. Steiner worked with Dr. Gandsas at UK learning the surgery procedure. After my endorsement though I hope he sends some to Georgetown.
Speaking of Georgetown Community Hospital, it is a very small hospital and all the nurses there are wonderful! I never had better service at a hospital whether it was UK or a much smaller one in Mt. Sterling.
Debra after reading the post about everyone having to pay several thousand dollars up front at St. Joe, I feel I need to reply. I have UHC and medicare and I HAVE NOT had to pay one dime out of my pocket and all the bills have been paid. Nor, was I asked to pay anything at anytime, upfront or otherwise. Now, it may depend on the ins. I don't know. I do know they do not contract to take a certain amount for payment from the ins but they DO file for you. But it is just not true that everyone who goes up there has to pay upfront money. There is a lot of misinformation out there and naturally everyone thinks there doctors are the best. Just go on to your info meeting and find out. I had Dr. Steiner but if you have chosen Dr. Nighbert be assured that he is one of the best known, if not the BEST known surgeon in Kentucky. he has more than forty years experience in general surgery. As a Registered Nurse, who has taken care of many of his patients, I can tell you that this is the doctor that my family goes to for surgical needs. Thats how you can tell a good doctor of any kind. Pick the ones that the nurses use. They take care of the docs patient during pre-op, post-op and see what kind of recovery they have and how bad the scars look. Anyway, you will be better informed once you go to the info meeting. P.S. I have sent you a private email. I just had to speak up after seeing wrong info posted. Hope I don't create a stir.
I am very sorry that my last post was offensive. Of course, everyone has a right to post their experiences and i am deeply sorry if I have hurt or offended anyone. As usual, just trying to be helpful and put my big foot in it. I have also worked at the georgetown Hospital and know it is a fine place also. Again, please forgive me!!!
I was not correct about Steiner working at UK. Apparently he just went to medical school there, which is where he met Gandsas.
About the whole advertisement about which doctor to use, of course I am going to send people who ask me to Georgetown, and everone else will probably endorse their own doctor. Nothing wrong with that. I went with the person who took my insurance at the time, did not require payment up front at the time and could get me in to get surgery the quickest as I am an impatient person.
I almost went to a doctor in northern KY, but it was just too far away to drive if I had problems, plus he required $1,500 above and beyond his fee and the hospital fee. Supposedly it was for the follow up visits (shouldn't insurance pay for those too) and a membership to a gym in the town he works in. I'd even have had to pay it even if I didn't live close enough to go to that gym. He even CHARGED me over $40 for the packet of info he sent (basically a cheap folder and copies of forms for you to fill out medical history, plus a 15 minute video endorsement about the surgery).
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