Does anyone have bcbs insurance???

If you have bcbs...when did you consult a surgeon about surgery? After approval for surgery? In the beginning? What dr do you have that is innetwork? What did you like dislike about him/her? Looking for in network and reviews of oklahoma dr's thnx

I have federal BCBS and used Dr. Ronnie Keith (Norman), who is a preferred provider for BCBS. 405-360-7100 or www.owlo.com   Norman Regional Hospital also has the designation as "A Center of Excellance" for bariatric surgery. 

Dr. Gornichec ****) is also on BCBS.  I understand that he is also very good. 

I used Dr. Keith because my primary care doctor highly recommended him....Dr. Keith did RNY for one of his family members.   Dr. Keith is no nonsense, he is gonna tell you like it is.  This is a tool and for it to work YOU must be willing to do the work...follow the diet, get in your protein, water and vitamins.   He is also all about you and the surgery.  Overall an excellent doctor. 

For pre-approval you start by attending one of their seminars, they contact your insurance and get the approval for you.  When you are filling out the medical history, be sure to list all previous weight loss attempts; i.e. Weigh****chers, diet pills/products (Redux, Phen Phen, Alli, HGC etc) Medi-Fast  or other medically supervised diet.  BCBS usually requires a 6-month to a year of medically supervised weight loss attempts.   

Because I was able to document YEARS of failed weight loss attempts BCBS approved me quickly and my surgery was scheduled quickly.   

Good luck on your journey.

My BCBS didn't pay for anything "weight" related.   Paid for the colonoscopy, the lab work, but everything else was cash for me.  It varies policy to policy.

My BCBS is the same way, they are paying for all the lab, the sleep study, etc, but they aren't paying a dime for the rest of the surgery.

I like Debbie have BCBS federal, they paid for me.  I also had the documented weight loss attempts.  I used Dr Gorospe.  I went to the Seminar in Sept 08 surgery 12/08. 
I think you need to find a seminar and attend and start with that.  Good luck to you!!

I  have BCBS of Texas and they covered almost everything except the phsych eval.   I went to an information meeting first and then to my PCP.  After getting his blessing I met with the surgeon (Dr. Kevin Fisher with Surgical Associates in Tulsa).  His group took care of getting the insurance approval.  Good luck and be patient.

I have BCBS.  I did all of the pretests (started in july of this yr and just scheduled my surgery friday just to save the date... found out today that my insurance approved my case)  It was a bit uncomfortable to not know what my out of pocket would be for all this time, becausse that was a big part of whether I could do the surgery, but really, until you do all the preliminary testing and they submit the findings, you don't really know what they'd cover or  not anyway... in the mean time, you get a very thorough checkup and know more than you ever knew about your physical well being.   I go to Bailey Medical Center in Owasso.  Dr Varnell will be my surgeon.  I've met with him twice and he was very nice and very knowledgable and made me feel at ease.  Dr Kirk is the General "referring" doctor.  He's really nice too, very laid back and is easy to talk to.  Expect to not get in and out of appts with him, though.  He develops a very good, personal  rapport with people, but the flipside is that it makes him run behind often.  Just go expecting that and you won't have an issue. :) Do you live near Tulsa?