Newbie Introduction

Greetings: My father is a candidate for bariatric surgery due to his morbid obesity and severe case of sleep apnea. He is currently on leave from his job (City employee) and his primary care physician recommended the Lenox Hill Bariatric Center to undertake his potential surgery. After attending the seminar, we were told that his insurance coverage (GHI CPB) was not in-network, nor very helpful or easily persuaded of the need for this type of surgery. After I told his PCP about their dealings with GHI and that he would not be covered under his plan, she recommended a Dr. Miguel Silva in the Bronx. Obviously, I am worried about my father's health and am serving as his gateway to obtaining information regarding the process, procedures and other aspects of the surgery generally and how his individual cir****tances will play a role specifically. I would appreciate any responses to the following questions: 1) Has anyone had experience with Dr. Silva and his staff in the past and how attentive are they to fighting the insurance company? 2) Are there any other city employees that share the same insurance as my father and can shed some light on how hard and often GHI's arms need to be twisted? 3) Has anyone had experience with obtaining disability through NYCERS and how cumbersome is the process for early retirement due to occupation limiting health issues? I appreciate your help and want to wish everyone here the very best of health.

Robert, I am sorry I can not offer any info at this time but wanted to say hello and I hope all turns out well for your father! I did have GHI and they are very strick with what info they want and all but once they had the info they required it was only 3 days for approval. It is all the BS just to get there that is the a struggle. I wish you both the best! Keep us posted. Debra P