Ohio Medicaid

Does anyone know if Medicaid in Ohio will pay for WLS? Any info would be appreciated.

They have been known to...but be prepared to jump thru hoops- and have a list of co-morbidities..and maybe, just maybe you will be one of the lucky ones! LOL

Thanks Jena. I appreciate the response. I searched old posts and saw that some people have been approved. Fortunately, I have Kaiser insurance so I'm all set. I was inquiring for someone else. Not sure if she is ready for it, but before we talked any further I wanted to know if she even had a chance at it.
Barbara

Hi, I think there's different 'versions' so to speak about medicaid. The state is working with private insurance companies now so you can have medicaid or one of the insurance companies. I have paramount advantage but its through the state. I didn't figure I would be approved because I called Paramount and the woman I talked to said there was a lot things that I would have to have in order to qualify because I had them through the state. Well I went about going to the seminar and everything that I needed to do before my surgeon sent the paperwork to at least try. Basically to make a long story short I went to my family dr March 21, was referred to Dr White, went to his seminar April 10 and had everything done and was approved April 26, and surgury is TOMORROW (I'm a bit nervous, lol) I was shocked to say the least that I was approved so easily because I don't have any comorbidities and am more or less perfectly healthy except that I'm extremely overweight. All I can say is at least give it a shot. I did and it worked. Good luck.

Medicaid (just medicaid) paid for my WLS in 2003. My PCP wrote a letter to an address that another one of my docs gave her...he had gotten approval for treatment for me and I asked him who he went through for approval since my PCP hadn't a clue about it and OSU said I needed approval before I could be accepted into their program.

You stated that Medicaid paid for your WLS...did you have the Lap Band? and if so did it pay for the fills? was told it may not,wich is crazy...if it pays for the operation in the first place,why not pay for the fills?  any one know about this?  Thanks,Mary

I had Open RNY...I actually looked into WLS because I saw something on TV about the new less invasive procedure being done at OSU called lapband...but when my mom called them...she called because she was staying at OSU for her radiation treatment, once she told them what she thought I weighed...she was off my 100lbs btw...they said I wasn't a candidate for it in their program they would only do the RNY and I would be high risk so I had to have it open. Hey, I was 502lbs...whatever someone would do to help me at that point I was doing it....

I had medicaid pay for my surgery.I had to pick a managed care plan, and that was to make sure I could go through University Hospitals Bariatric Program.It covered everything.However, I was denied at first, but fought an appeal, and it was overturned.

Thank you all so much for your replies! Now I know I can approach the subject with her since there is a chance she could have it. I appreciate all of you so much. I don't know if I mentioned it or not, but it looks to me like she has lymphedema so I am trying to get her to make the doctors pay attention to her symptoms.
Barbara

I currently tried to have healthy start and/or CareSource pay for weight loss surgery about a year ago, and I was told that you basicly have to have a dr refuse to do surgery on you becuase of your weight, and if it was a bak dr doing surgery then it was a back problem, not weight problem. And from what I under stand they still have the same reaquirements, I have diabettees, high blood pressure, sleep apenia, and low-high cholesterol they don't think that is enough to do the surgery. Call the 800 number on the b ack of your card to see if they will pay for it.  Is the best way to be 100% sure.