Got approved after 3rd attempt! Yae!

My lap band surgery is scheduled for 5/23 with Dr. O'Brien in Sioux Falls. This has been a one year process dealing with insurance and getting proper documentation. If anyone in this area has had surgery in SF, I would love to converse with you. Also would love to hear how any bandsters are doing with recovery and weight loss. Thanks so much.

Sorry I don't know anything about the doctor but just wanted to say your having surgery on my birthday !!! good luck ! I'm sure you'll have a great experience ! ... Sue

Sue, I ran into a road block. Since I was going out of my network to a preferred surgeon, my expense for lap would be about 15 thousand. I can't come up with that. If I have it at a Catholic Healthcare Hosp, they pay 100 percent. I am thinking about GI as it is in the group. Didn't you have a GI doc do your surgery? If so, what is his name. Does he do lap band? Let me know if you don't mind. Thanks....Shelly

Hi Shelly. I had lap-band surgery with Dr. White in Omaha. My insurance wouldn't cover so I ended up paying cash and it wasn't much more than your out of pocket expenses with your insurance. There are 3 doctors that I know of in Omaha that do lap-band and I've heard that Dr. Hung here in Lincoln is going to start doing them as well. There are getting to be a few of us bandsters in Lincoln. I'm hoping we can form a support group some day soon for us Lincoln bandsters. Good luck in your quest. Denise

Hello ...sister bandsters. I would love: to come help you get started. I have been 3 years in June. I have helped start 3 groups so far and was trained in Hollywood at the National Convention last Oct to be Chapter Leader for Nebraska. I want to help get support groups going and start new one in neighboring states. There is also a Conferance July 9th(Sat) in Denver. Hope some of you plan to attend. They are so educational and uplifting at the same time! I have been told OH will come to Ne also if I can get enough interested. Please lets get Nebraska WLS going strong. Mona from Scottsbluff and I want to get something started for the state for a get together this summer...maybe something educational and a family picnic on Sunday. Mahoney State Park would be wonderful. Lets see what we can come up with for this too...Beth in North Platte

Yes I had my surgery done at St Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. My Dr. was Dr. Georing at Grand Island Surgery Center. I don't know if your Dr. would come here to do it or not. Dr Georing does not do Lap band, he only does RNY. Is there a Dr. in Lincoln that would do it ?? You could check with Dr Georing but I know when I consulted with him he does not do Lap band. Good Luck my surgery at St. Frances was around 25 thousand altogether I can't she where your labs would cost 15 thousand or did you mean 15 hundred ??

sorry I just read your post again you mean your co=pay would be about 15 thousand for the whole surgery!! That is a lot to come up with.