cash and financing
Deb,
I don't know if this will help, but I just read in the book "Weight Loss Surgery: A Lighter Look at a Heavy Subject" that in NJ, if you have to pay for the surgery yourself but can find a hospital that is covered in your plan, the insurance company has to pay at least for the hospital if not the doctor. I do NOT know the details of how this works, but maybe you can check into that.
Jacqi
Thanks to everyone for all the good feedback. I couldn't supply the 5 year history of a bmi over 40. I qualified for the over 35 easily enough but didn't have the 'right' co-mobidities. I only have the depression...they don't care about that.
At the very least, I have other options to look at now, I will follow with the hospital coverage with
Aetna. Time will tell. Thanks Deb
Does anyone know what office visits run for checkups without the insurance coverage? Is it managable?
I have aetna HMO........which doesnt pay for out of network. However I called aetna today and they told me to have the surgeon request to be authorized as in network due to the fact the surgery is medically necessary and there is no in network surgeons in my area. Check out the clinical policy bulletin for obesity surgery on the aetna website. Go all the way to the bottom of the home page and click on members rights and responsiblities....then type in bariatric surgery in the search engine for aetna......the policy bulletin will pop up.
I am going to use Dr Mehta in New Brunswick once I get approval.....good luck to you hon.
Eileen