Medicare???

Has anyone gone through Medicare to have this surgery?  If so, what were the requirements?  I was just recently enrolled in Medicare and I'm wondering if Medicare requirements are different than Medicaids?  Any and all info will be greatly appreciated!

Linda

I had surgery about 5.5 years ago through Medicare.  The requirements were very simple - have a BMI of 40 or above or 35 and above with a comorbidity.  Have surgery at a Center of Excellence.  That was about it.  No pre-op supervised diet or anything like that.  The surgeon required a psych eval and a few other things pre-op.

Medicaid is a state program and the rules vary from state to state.  So yes, it may have different requirements.

And Medicare may have different requirements now, as my surgery was over five years ago.

Call 800-MEDICARE to get current, accurate information.

Thank you, Kelly.  What exactly is (and how do I find) a Center of Excellence?

The Center of Excellence is no longer necessary: Medicare COE listing

I had mine thru Medicare in March 2014. I had to take 3 nutrition classes, letter of medical necessity from primary care dr, psych eval, and list all the different diets ive been on in the past. You will have to pay $1,200 foe the hospital for your copay. Most Dr require lots of tests. I think mine required about 8. Didnt take very long from the time the Dr submitted it to Medicare before I got approval.

Where did you have your surgery? I don't think I have a co-pay, at least that's what I understand from the info I read.

I had mine at University of Maryland hospital. Just make sure the hospital you go to accepts Medicare. You WILL have a co-pay if Medicare is your only insurance.

Medicare is my primary, but I also have Medicaid. I've already seen my surgeon, and the hospital accepts both Medicaid and Medicare! I just don't want to have to go through the 6 mo dr supervised crap! I'm not obese because I "want" to be! I'm obese because I CANT lose it on my own!

I dont know what Medicaid requirements are. They might be different that Medicare.

just had my surgery a week ago and I have medicare. I was approved first time with bmi 37 with arthritis. I only had to get a diet from doctor sighned of 3 mos what I ate and psych eval.