New here

Hi everyone. My name is Katie and I am new to this site. I found this site while researching the Lap Band procedure. I am 300lbs currently and after having tried diet after diet, I am considering weight loss surgery. For those who have HAP insurance, could you tell me if it was difficult for them to approve the surgery. I already know that with HAP insurance and working at Henry Ford Hospital, I will have the surgery there and by Dr. Genaw or Dr. Carlin.  Thanks.

Hi Katie, welcome to the board!  I don't have HAP insurance, but I wanted to welcome you.  This is a great place to learn.  There is also an insurance forum on OH.  There are a few other message groups, I'm not sure if I can post links here so if you PM me I will send you the links that way.   Are you a nurse?  I'm an RN in outpatient surgery.  I also work at the hospital I had surgery at (just yesterday!!).   Keep in touch and ask lots of questions!  It's great to be well informed. 

Thanks for the welcome. Yep, I'm an RN. I work at Henry ford hospital. The unit I work on is right around the corner from the bariatric unit.  I'll check out that forum. I did contact my insurance company and they said there was a thousand dollar copay and my doctor had to determine it was medically necessary. I made an appointment for my PCP the day after I come home from vacation.

Hello and welcome!  I had lapband surgery a year ago and couldn't be happier.   I don't have HAP insurance so I am no help there but welcome to the MI Board!

Thanks Organic for the welcome. I actually got off the phone with HAP. They said told me the criteria for getting the Lap band and one of the criteria was a BMI over 40 with or without co-morbities. They also said something about having tried a diet. I did the Beaumont diet, it's a very low calorie diet where you basically drink protein shakes and eat veggies. That lasted for about 3 months and I want to chew my arm off. Anyhow. I'm feeling pretty confident with getting an ok. My appointment with my doctor is not until July 28. I'll get my physical done, blood work done and go from there.

Hi Katie
I had LAP RNY done by Dr. Genaw on Feb 25.  I also have HAP HMO.  I had to have 1 consective year of diet.  I only did 6 months of the Beaumont diet.  I was orginally denied by HAP b/c of the lack of one year diet, but then appealed and got approved.  Dr. G said half of the HAP patients are there on appeals.  I also had the $1000 co-pay.  Call Wanda at their office and she will get you the paper work to get started.  With HAP you have to get the approval first, then you will be put in touch with a HAP nurse to walk you through the rest of the process.  Once I got my approval, it took 6-7 months until surgery.  I would highly recommend their practice.  Once you go to the 4hr seminar you will get access to their yahoo message board and that is where most of us hang out online.  If you have any other questions, let me know.

tina

Thanks for the reply. I'm praying I don't get denied by HAP. My BMI is 52 right now. I really don't want to have to go through the whole diet for a year thing. If I have to do that, I'm giving up on the surgery. Did they want your one year diet to be supervised by the Doc? Should I call Wanda now or wait until I get my referral to their office? I still need to see my primary care doctor, which won't be until the following week. Thanks for the help.

Oh Katie don't give up if you get denied first.  That is what the insurance companies want you to do!  Your health and life is worth fight for.  There are great resources here to help you get through it.  Call Wanda and get the packet and call HAP and get their packet of info for WLS.  You can do this.  My BMI was at 50 when I started.  Be strong and patient!  Dr. G office and Wanda are wonderful to work with.  If you have any questions, let me know.

Thanks Tina