Today I decided, now what do I do first ?

Hi all, I have been on this web site now since about 11am this morning! I've always wanted to do this surgery - but now am ready to begin my journey! Where do I start? I think, Parkland Medical is were I will go - what do I need to do first? Do I attend a seminar, do I call my insurances (Matthew Thorton Blue) and see if they cover this, or do I start with a physical from my primary and she has to say ok you are a candidate... Could some one shed some light on this for me? I know it is a long road and I want to get started ! What do I do, What do I do !? Thanks for any help, advice and/or suggestions. From all I have read today you all seem like such a tremendous group of people ! joni

Hi Joni-- Welcome to the boards. I would say your first step would be to check with your insurance to see if surgery is covered and to see what they require as pre-op. I know some insurances have strict guidelines about supervised weight loss and such. After you do that I would call Parkland to see how they run their program. See what the program requirements are and at the same time get a visit in with your PCP to see if he/she thinks you would be a good candidate. If you get the green light from your PCP, you will already know what Parkland program requires and know when they have meetings and support groups. Hope this helps you. Good Luck with your process. Keep us posted. Shelley

GM ! Shelley - Thanks so much for the prompt response! It definitely has given me a "mission" for this morning !! I will start making those calls right away! You've been a big help! When dealing with the insurance is there any thing I shouldn't say or do to lessen my chances - or is it all pretty cut and dried? Either they will cover it or not? I am not sure if I can have open or lap by pass - Do you think if they cover one they'll cover both or ask that too......Any other things I ought to ask? I have never had surgery before ( I'm 44 yrs old and the only hospital visit I have had were to deliver my 2 kids !!) . Is there any other coverage I should be sure they include or exclude? Thanks again ! Joni

Joni, If the insurance will cover open, it will cover lap, too, although many insurances don't cover lap-bad, as they consider it experimental and reversible. I would just ask them if it is covered and what the requirements are. I had Anthem and they required a psych eval and consult with a nutritionist. If you have a PPO, you don't need a referral from your PCP. I just called the surgeon's office directly and made an appt for a consult. Consult to surgery-2 months. If they cover the surgery, they will cover related expenses (although sometimes the nutritionist is not covered). Good luck! Carrie

well you are totally headed in the right direction.Your plan is exacty how you are suppost to start.You go girl good luck with your jounay.It can be long and stressful.Remember to stay strong and stick with it you will be a whole new person after everything is in place.......Kara

Hi Kara, Thanks for the encouragement.....Bad news though. I have contacted the surgeon and person in charge of the program at the hosp and she suggested I call my insurance company to see if there was "a rider on my plan, that covered the surgery - if I met the criteria". I did so and was told NO. So I am out of luck- no coverage nothing they can do. I was, am, devasted. I cannot believe that is it. No coverage, no prgram, no surgery. And unfortunely, I am a single mother with 2 kids and no finances to do it myself. So I don't know what is next, only that I cannot go this route. Joni