Does anyone out there hav...

Does anyone out there have Exclusive Choice Insurance? ( Or) Work for SSM,And is wanting to have wls.

Terry, I wanted you to know you are not being ignored.. Anyway, I did some searches with search engines much better than GOOGLE and I can't seem to find Exclusive Choice Insurance. I also tried Exclusive Choice Insurance Bariatric and found few matches. One of the problems of course if that so many bariatric web sites have the words exclusive and also insurance, just not in the same sentence I was suprised that I cannot even find anything on the web for Exclusive Choice Insurance ? Is it some kind of sub-plan under another company? Just wondering. At http://www.barixinfo.com/index.cfm?ctid=ncsrcdesc&srctype=WWW&srcdesc=BTC which is brochure info for BARIX Clinics WLS they do have a listing for: Exclusive Provider Organization Plans ... which I found elsewhere but I am at a loss. I found 2 search functions at hospitals that have Physician searches that list Exclusive Choice as an Insurance choice. Howver I do not seem to get a match when I select Bariatric Surgery.... Ken http://healthline.tenethealth.com/apps/English/PhysicianSearch.asp?Specialty=&dblink=97&location=148&callback=True&hospitalURL=healthline.tenethealth.com&DCSID=DCS000001_8J6S

Ken,Thanks for replying. I was just wondering if any members had Exclusive Choice. This insurance company is with SSM Healthcare. I believe it is owned by SSM,or in operation for SSM.They had a meeting the first part of June with Dr. Scott. From my understanding they are talking about covering the wls at a discount rate for SSM employees,but only after the employee goes through 6mos of the HMR diet program that they have through the weight loss clinic at Depaul.If any one has any information about this please let me know. I do know they are having a seminar next Thursday at 7pm. At the May Center at Depaul.

Hi, Terry! Welcome to OH. I don't have any answers for you. From reading your profile, it looks like Dr. Scott is going to bat for you. That's a good thing. Most surgeons can be very persuasive with the insurance companies. Al of my docs are with SSM, except for my bariatric surgeon. I've had to do a lot of teaching to bring them up to snuff about my surgery. I hope you get things straightened out soon. Good luck in your journey. ______ Jeanie DS 02/12/05 - Medicare Approved Dr. Gary Anthone - Omaha NE 5' 10" -84 big lubs Read about the Duodenal Switch surgery at http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/surgtype-forums/DS/

Hi Jeanie,I found out today that Exclusive Choice is owned by SSM. This is why you don't hear about it unless you work for an SSM entity. I want to have this wls so bad. Why is it that some insurance companies want people to go through a weight loss program first? If I do that and lose 20-25 lbs I will not meet the 100lbs. over what I should weigh. But I do have some medically necessary conditions. I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle. You know the program they want us to go through is really exspensive. I just hope this insurance will except somthing like weigh****chers. Thanks Jeanie for your reply.I will keep you posted as to what is going on with all this stuff! Terry