Postponing my Endoscopy

It just dawned on me...duh Tina....that I probably have a copay for my endo this friday of $200.00...which of course I do not have. Since I cant even schedule my surgery till after my 6 mo preop diet, Im assuming I cant wait til near the end of my diet to get this done? The whole thing is going to have to wait till I get my tax return in teh sring so I have money for my copays I think. My ins covers my WLS surgery 100% tho so maybe my surgery co pay of $500.00 doesnt apply for that? Anyone know? Doesnt matter tho since I found out I wont be offered United Health Care in 2009 (see monkey wrench post). Im really starting to get discouraged about this whole thing, and I was doing so well! Being so positive and good with my diet! And then I find out about the change of ins...and its just all gone to crap. Im hoping when the vendors from teh Ins companies come to work on Thursday I will get good AFFORDABLE news and things will get back on track. WHy does this have to be so hard? Why cant you just go to the Dr, he can SEE you need to lose the weight and he can SEE based on his medical knowledge that you need a TOOL to lose it and Say "yes she needs the surgery"...and BAM! You get the surgery!? I mean thats how it is with my gallstones...I hvae them, they need to go...so they will go. But thats another thing that will require $500 co pay that I dont have so I may have to suffer with those damn things till spring too. But really why do they make it so damn hard to get this done? I realize more and more ins co 's are covering it, but they still make it so damn hard! Its jsut not fair and its almost not ethical to me.

Tina, WLS is not the easy way out.  They make it hard to see how committed you are in sticking to the tool.  It's a daily obligation.  Stay positive, you've come this far, don't give up now.  You may be surprised with the new insurance and find you won't have to pay so much for your co-pays, and will qualify for the surgery.  Both companies you mentioned in the Monkey wrench are good companies for this surgery.  Just make sure that the surgeon and the hospital are both in your new network.  As for the gallstones, the gallbladder won't allow you to wait until spring, it will need to come out sooner.  Get that out of the way first and for most while you still have insurance available.  Trust me on that one, it will become more and more painful, and will make you very sick if untreated. 

You have my daily prayers that all will work out for you. 

Kathy 

Thanks Kathy....it just seems do daunting to go thru this. I know its not the easy way out, but damn it shouldnt be so hard. Its like they discriminate against us and make it hard on purpose to try and get OUT of paying for it, even tho they offer coverage for it, KWIM? As far as the gallbladder goes, I may not have a choice but to wait. I dont have $500 for a copay....heck I dont have $ for groceries this week, not till I get paid monday morning.  And I really cant afford another payment right now, not till after christmas anyhow. Ive noticed it doesnt bother me as much when Im good on my diet. The alst few days tis been kinda bad, but ive also cheated on my diet the last few days and eaten stuff I should have have in large quantities. The weekends and evenings are SO hard for me diet wise. During the day at work I do SOOOO GOOD! Im going to look into getting secondary ins thru tenncare, if thats even possible. I may make too much money or maybe you cant get it as secondayr insurance...I have no idea. I know when I had tenncare a few years ago it was the BEST insurance EVER lol. I never had to pay for anything and they were SO easy to deal with.

Hi Tina!   I went thru the Gall stones about 16 years ago and they are AWEFUL.   the worst offenders for gall stones are chicken, eggs and coffee.  two of things they want us to eat when we are on a diet.  If you can hold off having them removed until you do WLS, they will do both at one time.  As for your monkey wrench,  hang in there.  We have all had hurdles to go through, one way or another, but it will happen.  When your representatives come in next week, be very blunt with them and tell them you need to know.  Thry probably won't know so get their card and CALL them EVERY day until you get an answer.  GOod luck.  You are thought of daily.

Beth

Thanks RJ.....actually my dr WONT do both at the same time. He said there is always a chance of having some stones left behind, and after you have the WLS its difficult if not impossible to go in and retrieve any stragglers. That was one of the first thigns I asked as I dont want to have to go under twice if I can avoid it. I wonder if his associate is the same way, dr Wattson....I may chekc on that....