help

ughh...I may be losing my job soon...I was wondering if anyone had any information on medicaid paying for surgery...if so, I wonder if you have to be on mcaid a certain amount of time?
 
I wish I had insurance but I don't..it's so hard to find a job right now also & with my weight, it limits me to what I can do.. I want this surgery soo bad

Hi. I am also on Medicade and yes, Medicade does pay for Weight Loss Surgery. You just have to find a doctor that takes it which isnt that hard. You have to be on a SUPERVISED diet by your regular doctor for 6 months before you can get the surgery... I know they pay for Gastric Bypass but its hard to get them to pay for Lap Band. Trust me, I am having this problem myself as I dont want Gastric... Good luck to you!!!

How long have you been on medicaid?

Im so impatient.LOL

I wonder if weigh****chers would count as supervised??

Koko ... Generally, for Medicaid or Medicare, it needs to be a physician supervised, multidisciplanary approach that includes a behavior modification program, an exercise program, and a dietary program. That dietary program could be Weigh****chers, but it would need to be done while being supervised by the Dr and the Dr. would need to document the progress during the monthly appointments.

Check out http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/DMA/physician/1a15.pdf ... it calls out in detail what's required.

I'm so sorry to hear about your job.

Barb

Please look at the medicaid website for accurate information on requirements.  They recently changed from the old requirements.  (7/1/08)

www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/physician/1a15.pdf

if you need help finding out why medicaid does not approve lapband for higher BMI's I Will gladly find it for you.

Hi there...

Look here for the requirements:www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/physician/1a15.pdf   print it out and highlight the requirements... check off the ones you might have already completed.

Medicaid pays for: Adjustable Gastric Banding (Lapband), RNY, DS and Vertical Gastric Banding. 

The requirements do not state a length of time you need to be on medicaid, but you must have certain requirements first.

Be careful with medicaid...I was on and off it for two years which is why it has taken me so long to get approved for surgery.  You do not have to be on it for a certain amount of time but you do have to go on a physician directed diet for six months (like weigh****chers...I did Calorie King online which is much cheaper)  The problem was that Medicaid will only keep an adult on for a year unless there are extenuating cir****tances and your time will run out.  As soon as my husband got a job, they kicked us off medicaid.  Go on and start your six months with your PCP and find a number of someone at the medicaid office who you can talk to about  your approval (start with your case manager).  They LOVE to tie up your approval and hold it until your time runs out!

I do work for a department of social services in medicaid and foodstamps. I am not sure whether you have any kids in the home. If not and you apply for adult medicaid you have to have conditions that would qualify you as disabled. Medicaid in NC follows the same disability requirements that social security follows. You would have to meet the requirement that you are not able to physically or mentally work.

Tamara

Thanks everyone for your help...I'll let you know what happens