Anyone have Carefirst Bluechoice HMO?

This is the plan I have. Just wondering if anyone else has the same plan. Also, anyone live near Southern Maryland?

Hey Marcy - I have Bluechoice, which for me as a single person, is great. Small co-pays, and surgery-wise, I literally had no problems with approval. At my first consult, I weighed 377 and had a BMI of 60+. I have to say that I don't know what their approval criteria is, but apparently I met it, because I never had any problems. I mean NONE! I think once they submitted my info, POOF, I was approved. For all of the pre-op testing, I think I paid less than $175. I got great care in the hospital, GBMC, and post-op care. All in all, not a bad deal. Having said that, I HATE BCBS - they laid my Mom off after she returned from a cancer-scare surgery. Of course, they waited until about 1 month after her FMLA expired, so we couldn't do anything. Now, she's 62 and had to take retirement from them, and can't find another job. Did I mention I HATE BCBS?!!! Can't help you with the So. MD part - I live in Middle River, in Eastern Baltimore County - probably about a 2 hour drive from you! Take care, Teresa - lap rny 8/2/05 - 370/236/170

Marcy I live in Lexington Park and I have Carefirst Bluechoice. I will arn you that not all plans are the same...it depends on what your employer chose as part of the package. However, in the state of Maryland if your employer is not a small group (more than 50 people) then they MUST cover WLS. Ok...all of that being said, I had no problems at all getting approved. First time they submitted I was approved just a couple of days later. My coverage is great (state of Maryland employee) and I had NO out of pocket hospital expenses. Just office visit copays. This was the best thing I have ever done for myself. We have a local suppirt group that meets once a month at the Lexington Park library. Please let me know if you're interested in attending or need additional information. Tanya

Miss T, The plan I have is where you don't meet any deductibles, need referral for specialists other than OBGYN doctor, minimum co-pays 10/20 plan. My husband is self employed and he gets the plan through his company. Which had to be offered and 2 or more had to take the plan, etc.. for us to get it. My dad works for IRS and he has the same plan (carefirst bluechoice HMO) and he said that my plan is exactly like his on what they cover and co-pays for doctors visits and for meds, etc. All I can do is keep my fingers crossed. This is so stressing me out!!! I am going to start attending the support meetings start next month. Right now my 5 year old son has T-ball on Tuesday and Thursday nights up 'til June 8th.

Marcy I can't wait to meet you! I called my insurance company before I went for my consultation to see if it was covered. You may want to do that so there are no surprizes. Other than that it was really easy for me. What doc are you going to see and where? Tanya

Miss T, I can't wait to meet you as well. It's so nice to have someone that has gone throught this already. What doctor did you use? as of now I have chose Dr. Mark Kligman, I am going to his seminar on May 31st. Just a long drive for a 2 hour seminar. I called my health insurance and they do not cover WLS. I guess the broker my husband used, its what the broker that would fit us, so carefirst said my husband can re-write the contract and add more benefits to it, like weight loss surgery. So I put a call into my husbands accountant/broker for his business. This is all what I was afraid of. But one good thing was, I never even realized that on my card said open access...lol So all this time I have been getting referrals for me or the kids to see specialists when I never needed to. THANK GOD FOR OPEN ACCESS!!! I hate them darn referrals...lol

Oh by the way, are you talking about the support group Lexington Park Loosers?

Yep and I'm not sure where we're going to meet or if we're going to meet in June (we couldn't get a conference room at the library for that month) so keep checking the website.

Marcy Be careful about the "Open Access" because if you utilize the benefit of not obtaining referrals, you will have a higher out of pocket expense. BUT it's nice to have that option. Good thing your husband can easily add benefits to your contract. See...you already have the ball rolling. My surgeon was Dr. Kligman and I am 100% happy and satisfied with EVERYTHING I am going to see him tomorrow for my 6 month follow-up. I have no problems with anything and have lost 94 pounds by my scale at home. I started at 329 and now I'm at 235 and still losing. I would do it again in a heartbeat!!! Please let me know if you have any questions at all. Dr. Kligman is a trip...he has a dry sense of humor LOL and it suits him. He also expects a lot out of his patients...I needed that and we seem to compliment each other quite well. Tanya

What about the Leonardtown Library for June? I called my health plan and the broker and he is going to re-write the contract and add WLS to the plan. YEPPERS! So I have to keep my fingers crossed for over a month or more. Nice to know you used Dr. Kligman. Definetly reassurring