Medicaid and WLS???

I go to see my surgeon again tomorrow. I see Dr. Argotte in Mayfield Ky. This is me second consult with him. When I saw him last month he told me medicaid would not pay for it until I was on a supervised weigh loss program for 6 months. Have any of you had to do this? I haven't seen it mentioned on here so I was curious. I don't have a lot of co-morbities but I do have diabetes, tachycardia and I get out of breath when I walk. I want this surgery done before Spring but the way it looks it will be then before I can get it. I also go for my first dietician appointment tomorrow. Thanks, Tracy

Well I have Medicaid and so far they haven't asked me to do anything. I'm waiting for approval right now. I talked to another lady that told me she was approved almost instantly. That all they told her she needed was a letter from her pcp telling them it was a medical necessity. So I really don't know. I'm just like you waiting to see how it turns out.

Well all I can tell you is that I was approved but had a statement of med necessity from my pcp. I know some in my support group have had to have documentation of weight loss attempts but they have ins through work don't kow about Medicais. Good luck! PJ sept 2, 2004

I had my surgery by dr. argotte and had medicare and thet dont pre approve but they did pay. I think they just changed that and if I were you I would call medicaid and talk to them. Good luck john

Tracy I have medicade I had a list of ites I had been on over the yr and how much I lost with them and how much I gained back also had a letter from my reg dr sayin I needed to have this done I kow alot of INC including medicade are cracking down on this making it harder for ppl to get it done I am 16mts out I have Dr Argotte when he did mine was when he was still doing them at mayfield.I was 260 day of WLS I have lost 132pds went from a pant size of 20something down to a 3 and that was b-4 my TT dont know what it will be when all the swelling and fluid is gone but just hang in their dont give up it is so worth the fight TakeCare Huggs Beth