HELP for a friend !! Medicaid insurance issue

Hello to all !!! I am seeking information on disability laws for the state of OK. There is a WLS patient in another state that became gravely ill in October,2004. COPD, Chronic Heart Failure, now needs O2. by-pap for sleeping, awful diabetic, etc. At that time, he was put on total disability and 23 types of meds forillnesses. He is still fighting the disability in the system of his state. His case, within the last two weeks, has made it to the review board, whatever that means. He is fighting state insurance on the WLS surgery, with many doctors on his side. Since he bacame sick, he has gained 100 pounds. He was already 100 pounds overweight. The insurance says now he needs 6 months more of diet supervision. He has already had 3 months. So this means his surgery should be in Jan So, bottom line, he is in a mess. And now the mess gets bigger. Now, within the last three weeks, his wife has decided she no longer wants to be married to him. They have been married 81/2 years. She threatens to kick him out, threatens to call the police and say he is after her with a knife. (Keep in mind, he can hardly breathe and certainly can't run.) She is only 32 and not heavy. I think she might have found someone else by the signs. Never know for sure but seems like that to me. Until now, she says she will let him stay until he gets his money if he will give her half. She has already packed his stuff and is now. Well, in the last couple days she thinks she wants him gone now. So, again, bottom line. He only has family in OK and would have to move here if she boots him. Does anyone have info on how long it would take to apply for and receive state insurance and how long after that could it take for surgery to get approved? His lawyer said his disability money can be transferred here so that part should be ok. He actually is very anxious to get back to work, if all goes well with the surgery, and he can get off a couople hundred pounds. The main concern is getting surgery before his health declines to a greater degree. Please, any info will be so greatly appreciated. Robbin

i can tell you taht i am on medicare and medicaid (but had my surgery before they switched the rules in medicare in february) and my surgery and hospital stay was paid in full 100% by medicare and medicaid... i did not have to wait the 6 months either, but my BMI was 71 + but by the sounds of it he is almost to that point as well... i weighed 408 day of my surgery if that helps any... i started my journey process and within 3 weeks had my surgery... but now you have to go to a hospital of excellnece with medicare... not sure about medicaid patients though... good luck with trying to get help for him to have his surgyer though... it is so worth it in the long run... and it sounds to me like she does NOT deserve him anyways so he should just kick her to the curb now and forget her... she will regret loosing him in the end when he is back to being healthy again

I live in Oklahoma and I am 556lbs. I have alot of health issues like asthma, sleep apnea, venious stasis disease and I am also on oxyegen all day. I am only on Medicaid and they will not help on the WLS. I have been trying for 8 years and have went to 5 different doctors. They have pleaded with the insurance company to with no results. I am tempting to move out of state to get the help I need. Does anyone no anything about Texas Medicaid? Good luck, Wendy Brawne

Hi Wendy, I don't know anything about medicaid in Texas, but I do know that Medicaid will pay in Missouri. I have a friend that lives in Missouri is on medicaid and she had the surgery in Missouri and they paid for it all. she had the Lap RNY August 2005 and has lost about 120 pounds so far. She is doing great, wish I could move to missouri and get mine paid for. good luck Reba