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Topic: RE: Frustrated...need surgery now or by year end!!
so you called health partners daily to check? Who did you call just the main claims number?
Topic: RE: Frustrated...need surgery now or by year end!!
I didn't have Dr. Kelly or a VSG, but I did have HealthPartners as my insurer. They took about 9 business days after everything was submitted to approve me (I called them every day to check), I got the official approval letter a couple of days after that.
-EJ 
"If television's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who won't shut up." -cat and girl
5'6" HW 325 / SW 317 / CW 214 / First Goal 190 | Century Club 09/19/2011
"If television's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who won't shut up." -cat and girl
5'6" HW 325 / SW 317 / CW 214 / First Goal 190 | Century Club 09/19/2011
Topic: RE: *** Need help***
If you're willing to do the road-trip thing, here's a good place to start -
http://www.parknicollet.com/bariatrics/
Everyone here who has had a good experience will probably want to promote the program they went through, and that's a good thing. I know that with PN, I didn't have any run-around - once they agreed I was a good candidate, they took the reins and navigated all the steps I needed to take to make it happen for me.
If you have records of all the hoops you've already jumped through, i would think they would be able to use that information to streamline your approval. It depends a great deal on your insurance, of course, but it helps to have a pro-active bariatric program on your side! My approval took only 2 weeks once it was submitted - it would have been faster, but some cog in the insurance wheel went on vacation for a week, leaving my file sitting on her des****il she got back.
Good luck to you - do your research as much as possible online, then when you choose a program that clicks with you, you can probably consolidate any appointments needed into a one or two day trip!
http://www.parknicollet.com/bariatrics/
Everyone here who has had a good experience will probably want to promote the program they went through, and that's a good thing. I know that with PN, I didn't have any run-around - once they agreed I was a good candidate, they took the reins and navigated all the steps I needed to take to make it happen for me.
If you have records of all the hoops you've already jumped through, i would think they would be able to use that information to streamline your approval. It depends a great deal on your insurance, of course, but it helps to have a pro-active bariatric program on your side! My approval took only 2 weeks once it was submitted - it would have been faster, but some cog in the insurance wheel went on vacation for a week, leaving my file sitting on her des****il she got back.
Good luck to you - do your research as much as possible online, then when you choose a program that clicks with you, you can probably consolidate any appointments needed into a one or two day trip!
Imperfect does not = unsuccessful
Topic: Dr. Kelly VSG???
Just wondering who has had Dr. Kelly for VSG surgery? Kind of wondering what to expect from start to finish...how long does surgery take? How long in hospital (if no complications) do they send you home with drain tubes? Cath? What to expect when you wake in hospital? How soon do they have you walking? When do they do the leak test?
Topic: RE: *** Need help***
Thank you!!! At this point I am willing to do anything,,,do you have an address and a phone number. I will give them a call..besides roadtrips can be fun. Again, thanks for the advice. christi
Topic: Frustrated...need surgery now or by year end!!
ok, just trying to understand the process of this is so frustrating. I started checking into this last September. I have Health Partners insurance, did all the phone calls, seen 3 different psychologists......now just waiting on the psych to send the final eval to the surgeons office so that hopefully I can have the VSG surgery before the end of December or I will have to dish out another $2500, which I know is very little compared to self pay but why does it take so frickin long???? I guess once it is sent then the surgeon & nurse have to go over all paperwork then call me in for appt. after that is done then they submit to my insurance...does anyone know how long it takes for health partners to make a decision??? Just wondering? Does anyone have Dr. Kelly and had a VSG (Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy)? I need this now!!! :(
Topic: RE: *** Need help***
I don't know of any. It may be worth your while to make the big trip to the Twin Cities as there are several wonderful programs up here; Park Nicollette, Abbott, Unity.
55# Lost pre Surgery on 2/15/10, 100+ # lost post surgery
Topic: *** Need help***
Hi I live in Beaver Creek Minnesota and was wondering if anyone knew of a good surgeon in my area. I have dr perry at from surgical associates in sioux falls SD but I keep getting the run around there. The insurance specialist doesn't return my calls and i have no idea where i am in the process. I have repeatedly called but not with much success so I am looking for another doctor in the area. Does anyone have any ideas? It could me a minnesota or south dakota doctor,,,it doesnt matter really so long as they are good. Give me a shout out please!!!
Topic: RE: Monday morning weigh in
I've been picking at this and that lately. 
Need to stop. Thankfully I lost anyway, but don't want to slow down this honeymoon period and don't want to slip back into old habits over the holidays. I have a challening week ahead. Let's face it- a challenging life ahead! Gotta get my head around it. Glad I can get to coffee this coming week... you guys motivate me!
Starting/Highest Weight: 313
Day of Surgery: 300
Last Week: 222
Today: 221.2
Need to stop. Thankfully I lost anyway, but don't want to slow down this honeymoon period and don't want to slip back into old habits over the holidays. I have a challening week ahead. Let's face it- a challenging life ahead! Gotta get my head around it. Glad I can get to coffee this coming week... you guys motivate me!Starting/Highest Weight: 313
Day of Surgery: 300
Last Week: 222
Today: 221.2
~ Kim
Topic: RE: Monday morning weigh in
541+ highest known weight bmi 69.4
491 Lap RNY 1-12-11 bmi 63
322 currently -3 pounds bmi 41.3
Another good week in the books. This weekend marks 1 year since I had to go on optifast program to get sub 500 pounds so my doc would do laproscopic rny. It did work as a temporary fix ended up losing 50 pounds on it. Went and got a authentic taco for lunch on tuesday and ran into a old friend who hasn't seen me since surgery and he didn't even recognize me. That was pretty cool.
Got all my old 5/6 xl cothes boxed up ready for donation. I am going to keep 1 outfit as a reminder.
Got to the gym on a regular basis and this will continue to get easier to do now that work has slowed from 14 hours a day to 10. I did run a 5k yesterday and that was pretty awesome feeling, but next time I'm going to train before running a long distance because I hurt like hell last night, although this morning I'm feeling a lot better.
491 Lap RNY 1-12-11 bmi 63
322 currently -3 pounds bmi 41.3
Another good week in the books. This weekend marks 1 year since I had to go on optifast program to get sub 500 pounds so my doc would do laproscopic rny. It did work as a temporary fix ended up losing 50 pounds on it. Went and got a authentic taco for lunch on tuesday and ran into a old friend who hasn't seen me since surgery and he didn't even recognize me. That was pretty cool.
Got all my old 5/6 xl cothes boxed up ready for donation. I am going to keep 1 outfit as a reminder.
Got to the gym on a regular basis and this will continue to get easier to do now that work has slowed from 14 hours a day to 10. I did run a 5k yesterday and that was pretty awesome feeling, but next time I'm going to train before running a long distance because I hurt like hell last night, although this morning I'm feeling a lot better.
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