anyone self pay with Dr. Voellinger in Charlotte?

Any self pay patients using Dr. Voellinger in Charlotte? I'm going to the educational seminar in January but was curious how long the process took on average for a self-pay patient. I've already done a sleep study but no other pre-op tests.  I'd love to have surgery by the end of Feburary but am not sure whether that will be possible.  Thanks.

Hi Sheepla,
I am hoping BCBS will approve my VSG surgery in the next 2 weeks. Dr V does not think it will be a problem. I started the process with his office in July and my paperwork has just now been sent off.
Self pay will be alot quicker I would think as they will not have to write letters of recommendation to an insurance company and that is what has taken 2 months. I had my last 2 appts on Nov 2 and just now getting all the paperwork in and sent off.

Good luck!!!
Pam in Charlotte

I just got my surgery with VSG on Dec. 29, 2009. Dr. Voellinger is EXCELLENT CARING DOCTOR. The only problem to face with BCBS approve or not. Be patient and hang in there. I was frustrated last year. Now It is over. IT will take time!!!

Thanks so much for the encouragement!! Kim has finally sent my paperwork to BCBS and she said to give her 2 weeks. How long did it take them to approve you? Did they approve on the first submission?

I've met Dr V twice now and just love him already. I had the lap band last year with Dr Bauman
and got a leak and had to have it removed. I was very very sick and in the hospital 5 days. Thank goodness we caught it early and I had a full recovery. Physically that is. Mentally I  had to see a phsycologist who encouraged me to try it again. That's when I went to see Dr V and he was so nice. The sleeve is the only surgery he will do on me now due to all of the scar tissue and damage from the band and leak. He told me there should not be any problem with approval due to my cir****tances. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!

Good luck with your sleeve!! Keep me posted on your progess please!

Thanks again,
Pam

HI my name i is Renea aka Honeylamb,
I am self pay and I went to my seminar in June and had my surgery in September. I didnt have to have a sleep study. At the seminar they gave out some info and some of it was tests you can get your pcp to order, chest xray, ekg and some lab work that sorta speeds it along. Also your insurance will pay for that if your pcp orders it. Also you have to do some testing with Dr V's staff, the nutriton, the excercise and the psych, I had to have an ugi plus you have paper work to fill out also.  But it is faster than insurance being self pay. But they did say depending on when the process starts it is around 90 days.  hope this helps.
Renea

Thank you. That is very helpful information.  It sounds like it is a lengthy process, even with self pay. Oh well, patience, patience.

It is a long process, but the doc needs to know what he going into, so that's the reason for all of the pre-op testing. Dr. V's staff is great, I have nothing but good things to say about them! Good Luck!