Tampa-St.Pete/ Wish Center

I went to a Saturday seminar at Town & Country Hospital 2 weeks ago. I have an evaluation set for April 29th. I hate the wait, lol. I want to know now if I will be a candidate and if my insurance will let me use the Wish Center, since they are out of plan. What can I do to prepare for the 1st eval? They said to plan to be there 4-6 hours. And what should I expect before a date, during the "8 weeks" after the eval.? I met Dr. Dietrick. Who has had the open RNY? I just have soooo many questions. Thanks all... Tina Z.

Tina, What insurance do you have? Will they cover wls with another doctor?I had my surgery in Oct with a surgeon in Largo. As for what to ask....I asked everything...how many surgeries she had done. Make a list of any question you can think of. Good Luck!!! PS> the waiting is the worst!!! Melinda Lap RNY 10/17/03 -92lbs

I have Humana Gold Plus, a medicare HMO.

Hi Tina. Don't get too excited about this first visit, it consists mostly of a video and visiting with the staff. They will go over how and what kind of exercises to do, how and what to eat in order to prepare for the surgery. You'll have a psyc evaluation and a cardiac evaluation (EKG) also. They may draw blood, (they couldn't hit my vein) and an ultra sound to check for Gall Stones. I went back in November, only to find out that my insurance would not cover very much towards the surgery. Also, something they don't tell you at the meeting, but they tell you at the appointment. . . in order to proceed after that visit, you will need to pay $2,000 up front. This is required even if your insurance will pay. Of course you will be reimbursed if they are overpaid but you will have to wait. Also, my 1st visit ran $1300.00+ that is not covered by insurance and very little of that will count towards my deductable. Personally I found that vist way too costly for what they did. Even my medical Doctor agreed on that. I wish you the best, I only wish they would have disclosed this info at that first "free" meeting. Good Luck!

Hi Junie: Well I called the WISH center back and they confirmed the $2000-$3000 down payment. Yikes. The 8 weeks given to complete the pre op goals are to be used to finance the payment in some way also. My PCP has already said all blood work needs to go thru him, and pre op tests, Humana will require in plan. So Monday I will be on the horn with a lady from my PCP's office and hash out my next move. One huge relief... HUMANA GOLD PLUS, A MEDICARE HMO, DOES COVER WLS, WITH A PCP REFERRAL AND MEDICAL NEED !!!!! WOO HOO. So I have more work to do. Let me know how it goes with you please?