Anyone with MnCare in Minnesota?

Hi I have been waiting to hear if I have been accepted to have surgery in Park Rapids Minnesota I have not heard anything since begining of November. I have MnCare and my normal clinic and Hospital is Merit care. MeritCare gave me permission to go to St. Joseph in Park Rapids. However I do not know if Minnesota Care will pay for me going there. I was thinking because Merit care gave me permission Mn Care would pay. Any body know the answer to this by chance??

Wanted to welcome you to the  OH MN board!  Unfortunately cannot help you wth your questions, but wish you luck in the decision.  Here's hoping it works out perfectly for you!

Hi thank you for writing to me and for the welcome.  I called Park Rapids and my clinic didnt send them the right information. I believe I have that fixed. Now the next thing is to see if my Insurance accepts it! I wont hold my breath though. I have read a ton of peoples stories who have to jump through a ton of hoops and  have had major diapointments. I started this in 2005 and had made 10 out of 12 appointments my Dr. said was a requirement. Then I lost my Insurance for a year, got it back this last June. My Dr. set up a appointment for me in Fargo for the required seminar. Made it there in the begining of October. I went back to her and asked her isnt there any place closer?? She said yes I'll make a referrel. My Clinic approved the referel because Park Rapids is out of the Merit care network. So October 29th I had a appointment there for a group meeting with a dietition, social worker, and exercise specialist then had lab work done and met the surgeon. now my Insurance only paid for part of that appointment and said I had to pay for the other part. So  I dont know if they'll pay for my surgery there. I'll have to wait and see.  Congratualions for being on your way to a new body, and feeling better. I hope to have a lot more energy than I have now and to feeling alot lot better! Take care and hope all is well for you. Thanks again for taking the time to write to me.

Hello and welcome to the MN board! I don't have an answer either but why don't you just call them and check it out. It has been long enough they should maybe know if you have been approved. If not at least you could find out if they got everything they need to make the decision or where you are in the proccess. Good luck...let us know how it turns out! connie d

Hi Connie,   Thank you for responding to my note. It gave me the kick I needed to call Park rapids. I found out that Bemidji Clinic didnt send St. Joseph the right information. They sent blood preasure and blood work that I have had done in the lat year or so. When I specifically told them I needed them to send the 9 months of supervised visits I had with my Dr. concerning gastric bypass. I dont know how they could fowl that up like that. I see in your profile you had alot of struggles also with Insurance and stuff. I have read so many people having so many hoops to jump through. I hope that I can stay as determined as you. I say congratualions on your determination!   I started this in oct of 2005, My Dr. said I needed 12 months of supervised visits with her. I found out today I acually did ten. After the ten I lost my Insurance. After the year, I got my Insurance back and so am working on the journey of trying to get there! October of this year I went to Fargo for a Seminar. In October I went back to my Dr. and asked her isnt there some where closer. She said she could refer me to Park Rapids. Bemidji Merit Care let me be refered to Park Rapids as they are not a Merit care. So then Oct 29th I went to Park Rapids for a group meeting with a dietitian, social worker and exercise specialist. Then went to the Hospital for lab work and to meet Dr. Danial Smith the surgeon. And I had a test from a book that had to be done for that day also. I was also able to squeeze in a psychiatric evaluation test. I did pass it. They told me that day they needed the supervised visits. So I thought I had that done and it wasnt. So I was just sitting here waiting and waiting for the phone call that I was hoping would say those words Approved. With my luck those Dr. visits wont be good enough or my Insurance wont pay because there outside of Merit care.  Park Rapids said I need 6 months of supervised visits with a dietitian. So I'll just have to wait now and see. Like you I have fibro and austio arthritis in my spine and my spine is deteriorating. (Please excuse my spelling) I am soon to be 43 yrs old. I have nerve damadge in my back, legs and hips. Ache all over most of the time and have alot of trouble sleeping. I have been sleeping on the couch in a elevated position for years now.  Well Hope you dont mind I wrote all of this to you. I should update my profile. Thankyou again for taking the time to write me and congratulations on your successes.

Hi again....I am happy to hear that you call and checked things out.  I am sure your supervised weight loss will count. All they need to see is that you did it for a certain lenght of time. As long as it was supervised by a doctor they won't care where it was done at.  You hang in there and don't give up...you can do it!!! Please let me know how this turns out. Anytime you need to chat send me a PM and I will answer any questions I can. Hugs, connie d