Shot down

How long was the drive once you hit the Ohio/ Michigan line?

I am wondering if I leave work at 345 on Thurs if I can get to the seminar by 6pm? I don't see anymore dates and times listed on their website after that. The office might have additional dates though. 

It seems like someone told me the program fee was $750. Do you have to pay it all at the first visit? 

Thanks for your help.

Here's the Payment plan.

$50 due at the first visit with an internist.

$200 due when you see the behaviorist. (I did this the same day as the internist so I payed $250)

$500 due at the pre-op appointment.

If you have a specialist co-pay you will also have to pay that. Mine was $40 at each visit.

The pre-op diet food they say plan on $250. I spent $235. The 2 week supply for post op was $85.

This covers all my post op appointments for the first year so I will not have to pay anything else for a while. They do it this way because so many people fail to follow up after surgery and this is incentive to show up. I guess some people still don't show up even though they paid all this money.

But then you get it all back after you pay your co-insurance correct? So, at Wood County my co-insurance for the surgery was going to be about $500. Does this mean I would get all $750 back?

At what appt do you meet the surgeon so you are in agreement with what surgery you will be having?

My psych testing is done. Hopefully I won't have to do it again anyways.... 

Thanks!

I'm not really sure how much I'll get back. I knew what I had to pay and I was ready to pay and get it done even if I don't get it back.

I met the surgeon for an appointment the same day I met the behaviorist. I believe they said they always try to do those at the same time.

You shouldn't have to do psych testing again they wouldn't require it unless the insurance did. Mine did. They do however have you see their behaviorist which pretty much does their own psych eval.

Hi Sonya,

I don't know who you have for insurance but I did all my pre op stuff here in the state of Maine and flew to Dr Kemmeter in MI to have my surgery. I had started a program here in Maine then at the end I switched out for the DS which I knew I was going to do but you have to play the game. The only thing I had to do at GHP is have one appointment with him when I got there I was approved for the DS before I ever flew out there and had never seen him. I had my consult by phone with him and as someone else said here Nettie is wonderful helping getting all the paperwork. Everyone is a class act in that office I came in contact with! Even the nut knows what she is talking about when it comes to eating for a DS :) Good luck

trish

Sorry you have been having a hard time. I do not know about Dr Lalor, but if your getting a run around now, I would run. I did see Dr Maguire a few years ago and he is retiring and not taking any new patients. Most vetted DS docs will use the Hess Method.This is something you should ask about as it's essential to reach a good weight. Not all surgeons use the Hess Method.

I have heard great things about Dr Kemmeter in  Michigan. I also know that Dr Keshishian and Dr Rabkin in California are wonderful and use the Hess method for intestinal measurement.

I hope you can get things resolved soon. Hang in, it's worth the wait for a good doctor !

Ok! Dr Kemmeter it is. That was the direction I was leaning towards. It sounds like he's going to be the best option for me. Now I need to draft some some letters to the insurance company stating my case. 

I did leave a message for Nettie today. Hopefully I will hear tomorrow. 

Keep your fingers crossed that the stars align and the insurance people are nice. (You never know. There was a full moon this weekend.)

Sonya - feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.    He truly is a fine surgeon and you deserve a great DS.   And when you DO see Kemmeter, make sure you tell him Julie in Ludington sent you!  We've been joking about this for years.    

Hey! I've been to Ludington. Isn't that where the ferry across Lake Michigan leaves from :)We took the ferry from Milwaukee. It was VERY COOL!

Yep- I'll tell him you sent me :)

Yup - that's where I live!  Five blocks from beautiful Lake Michigan and just a few blocks from the ferry docks.  I can see the ferry stacks from my front porch!