medicaid

Hi everyone, I have been researching wls for about a year now and have come to the decision that this is what i need to save my life. my weight is doing nothing but increasing and my bmi is HIGH. I dont have any insurance but my partner is willing to purchase some for me. The problem is, no insurance company will cover me because my weight and height. I have been so down and depressed for the past couple months trying to figure out what i am going to do. I feel absolutely desperate. Anyway, I just noticed that a lot of surgeries preformed at musc were done with medicaid. So,my next step is to apply for medicad ASAP. my question is... Do you think its possible to get medicaid and get wls process started right away? I have heard and read online where some people have had to wait and try to diet and show history proff of loosing weight. Can anyone help me or any suggestions. I just want my life back and just to be happy again. Sorry this is long.... Thanks, Kristie

if you were to purchase commercial insurance your best bet in SC is United health care but you have to be very specific that it will have the rider to cover wt. loss surgery. most individual policies do not cover it. also most commercial policies will make you wait one year or it is considered a pre-existing condition. as for medicaid - i don't believe they make you wait a yr. as a pre-existing condition but it will take awhile to get insurance that way. it will also take many months to have surgery through MUSC. from what i hear in the neighborhood of a year. maybe someone who has had surgery there can clarify that.

Kristie, I applied for Medicaid and was approved in 2 weeks! Within 1 month of applying I had GBS! I submitted all of the paperwork to my Dr. including letters from 4 Physicians stating that GBS would greatly improve my life 15 yrs. of Medical history and a letter to Medicaid stating why I needed/wanted the surgery! Submitted on June 9,2004 and on June 16,2004 I was approved and June 28, 2004 I had my surgery! I have lost 140 lbs. only regret is that I did not do this years ago!! Ivy

Ivy, Thanks for letting me know about medicaid. That message to me is like a letter of encouragement. Sometimes i feel like i want to give up on this wls dream of mine. One day this week i am going to go apply for medicaid and start seeing a doctor. I am pretty sure i do qualify. Well thanks again and Congrats on your weight loss! Kristie

Hi Kristi, I am from Gastonia NC, I see it says your from Charlotte, are you getting SC medicaid or NC medicaid, the carolina access which is most likely what you would get in NC requires you to have 6 month Dr assisted Weight loss, sometimes your PCP can help with this little bit of red tape LOL . I also wanted to tell you thAT WE HAVE A SUPPORT GROUP MEETING FOR PREOPS AND post ops in Gastonia . The people are all so cool, and you can learn the good,bad, and the ugly about the surgery, the insurance, and EVERYTHING! Click on my name up there and go to my profile to email me, I'd love to meet you, and talk to you more! Bye Jamie