Newbie Seeking Guidance

Greetings everyone.... My name is Joe and after seeing the health benefits obtained by my girlfriend and deciding that I need to take drastic steps to improve my own health at age 39, I just joined this site. Realizing that I have a lot to learn, here'e my first bunch of questions: 1. Are there any good bariatric surgeons in Nassau County, Long Island, who accept Oxford HMO Liberty insurance? 2. Does anyone here have Oxford HMO Liberty insurance and if so, could that person please share his or her experiences and/or suggestions? 3. Can anyone please share their opinions concerning the following docs:     Dr. Alan Geiss       Dr. Dominick Gadaleta     Dr. Lester Cooperstone Well, that's my first dip of the toe into the pool, as it were. Thank you all in advance for your assistance and I wish you all a pleasanrt afternoon. Sincerely, Joe

Hi Newbie! I think a good place for you to start is to check with your insurance to find out 1. if they cover bariatric surgery, 2. what their requirements are for approval, and 3. what surgeon's take your insurance Sorry I couldn't help any further.

Dear Purple Passion, Thank you for giving me a starting point. I will take your suggestions and see where they lead me.

Sincerely,

Joe

HI JOE, Welcome to the boards. and congrats on considering wls. I don't know too much about the the docs you have mentioned. But I can highly reccomend Dr. Garber and Dr. Holover from NY Bariatric Group in New Hyde Park a very close friend has oxford I believe Dr. Holover accepts it but Dr. Garber you have to go out of network they are both in the same office and both are awesome. I used Dr. Garber and I could not be any happier. He has done the most laproscopic rny's in NY he has an excellent reputation .  Well I hopedI helped somewhat. Good luck on your journey.      

Dear Lori, Thank you for the information!

I know that this journey will be a long one, but I am determined to better my life.

I'll let you know if I go with either of them.

Sincerely,

Joe

HI JOE!!!  Welcome to the boards.  I can not help you with the insurance issue but I can tell you that I love Dr. Cooperstone.  I am 2 wks out post op and used him.  I love him  he is compassionate and caring and his staff is phenomenal.  I don't know about the other drs.  I would highly recommend Dr. C.  Have you gone for a consult yet???  Well good luck on your WLS journey!!!!  You have made a step in the right direction.

Dear Jennifer, Thank yo for the information. The next poster *****plied to me wrote that Dr. C. does not perform laparascopic Roux-n-Y, only open. Is this correct? Does he also perform lab-band?

Sincerely,

Joe

Hi Joe, Dr. C only does open RNY and no he does not do the lap band.  Dr Geiss does the lap band. 

Joe, Before you decide on a doctor, you need to research the actual type of surgery you are seeking.  Dr. Cooperstone only does the Roux-en-Y surgery OPEN (not laproscopic) and Dr. Geiss performs the Lapband (the device that gets put around the stomach).  I know people who have both of these doctors depending on the kind of surgery they were seeking.  Does your insurance allow you to go out of network?  Some surgeons will work with that and accept whatever the company will pay.  Do not limit yourself.  This is a major life changing surgery and you are letting your insurance choose your surgeon instead of the other way around.  I researched for 2 years.  My girlfriend had Dr. Cooperstone and loves Loves LOVES him!!!  You can't go wrong if you are willing to do the work.   Hope this helps a little or at least gives you some "food for thought"....

Dear Trish, Thanks for breaking down the differences between these 2 docs. My initial research tells me that I want to look at either Roux-en-Y laparascopic (I know I'm not spelling that correctly..help please?) or lap band. I have been told that in order to obtain a fair appraisal of which option might work best for me, that I need a doc who does both. Whereas going, for example to Dr. Geiss, as good as he may be, could lead me to hear a somewhat one-sided perspective.  How did you decide which form of surgery to undergo? Sincerely, Joe