HI everyone. Many of you have helped me in my dealings with Aetna and my employer's denial for my WLS. I am happy to say that after it was reviewed again on Thursday teh 4th.. I have an approval! I had to take it all in my own hands and know deep down in my gut that no one was going to want this more than ME. I got all my paperwork organized..sent ton's of faxes when requested, highlighted, paperclipped, tagged and had extra appointments and calls with my dr., the barix clinic and the insurance offices..but it paid off.

I knew I had did everything on my end. You have to fight for it. Unfortunately the first medical reviewer I had with Aetna denies 99% of the claims to have WLS but I didn't stop there. I started in December of 2009 and here we are almost a year later.

Don't give up. I am here to tell you to fight for what you want and if your insurance company does have it in their plan to pay/help pay for WLS..do what they say to a "T" plus some.

Excitedly waiting for my own WLS date!!
Angie

Hi and thank u. I sent him a email on the website
Did u have surgery there? Do u know anyone who did? How is his bed side manner? What can u tell me about him?

I have a tenative date for my surgery only hickup is I need to find a complications insurance provider.  Family is concerned even though my surgery has a super low risk of complications.

If anyone knows of a Insurance company which provides this service in North Carolina please pass that information along.

I went through the process for Medicaid. I am not sure what to expect now, other than "I will be contacted within the next 15-45 days".

I'm also scared on whether or not they will cover me. I am jobless but a full-time student *****ceives Stipend checks. I am worried they may decline me because of this, but the real issue is that these checks won't help me with my problems medically. Will they interview me before accepting or declining? They don't even know why I am applying for Medicaid, which is not insurance at least to my knowledge it's only to help through a certain situation, right?

I'm so confused and lost and scared. I don't know where to go for any real simply put detailed information about this and this process.

I have a lot on my plate, with uncontrolled hypertension and high risk (if i don't have already) for diabetes as my mother was just diagnosed and everyone in her side of the family had it, and my grandfather had congenital heart failure and I now suffer from edema.

What are my real chances of getting help?

 With 2 weeks until my surgery date by Dr. Bertha, and with nutritionist, psychologist, gynocologist, etc. prereqs completed, and insurance company approval for the procedure, Dr.Bertha suddenly refused to accept my United Healthcare insurance on 11/1, and told me that face to face today.

I cannot believe that his staff had no way to set my expectations to be ready for the sudden rejection. Feels like malpractice to me to lead me on and then change your mind.   My life felt as if it was falling apart.  He told me his hands were tied by NJ insurance law so that he couldn't warn me that he might drop that insurance.  I find that impossible to believe--on Monday members of his staff were calling me for my blood work at noon, and at 4:30 told me he wouldn't take my insurance any more.

WARNING!!!!! JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A DATE AND YOUR PRE-REQS DONE AS HE ORDERED, IT DOESN'T MEAN THE SURGEON CAN'T PULL THE PLUG ON YOU.
Jill