NEED INS ADVISE FROM DR C!!!!

I have a hiatal hernia, diagnosed with the bariam swallow test. I am on Nexium daily. Still my reflux bothers me. Without the medication I have went to emeregency room twice thinking I was having heart attack! My question is two fold: 1. can I still have lap band with the hernia? 2. if i can get insurance to pay for hernia repair could i do lap at same time? (since they will not pay for weight loss surgery) Yes, I am trying to "work the system", does anyone think this will work? Or, has anyone had similiar experience? thanks lots! cj PS. I POSTED THIS SAME QUESTION ON ANOTHER BOARD, THEY SUGGESTED I POST IT HERE IN THE HOPES THAT DR C WOULD REPLY! THANKS!

I am not Dr C but here is some unsolicited comments. Maybe Dr C will know different. Seems to me they could do it all at once. I knwo Dr Alexander does multiple things like gall bladder some repair etc. Getting the insurance company to pay is another matter. Each item is coded separately. You might be taking the chance of getting completely denied. Just my thoughts but I say go for it. The most they can do is say No Good Luck

The short answer is - yes, you can have them both fixed at once, although most people's hiatal hernia's a actually very small and don't even need to be "fixed" when you put a band in. The long answer is, if you're trying to get the insurance company to cover most of the cost of a band by paying for a hiatal hernia repair, it usually doesn't work, in fact if the insurance company finds out you are having a non-covered procedure at the same time, they will deny both of them, leaving you with an even bigger bill. Good luck, Dr. C The Deaconess Surgical Weight Loss Center Cincinnati, Ohio (513) 559-2545

Hey Dr. C. I sent her to the OH board in search of you. I thought you might be able to help her out, and as always you did. Hope your having a nice weekend, Thanks again, Vicki

Thanks for the advise! I appreciate it. I was just hoping if I had to get my hernia fixed insurance would pay for that procedure, and I would pay for the banding myself...sigh.. Anyway, I will pay for the procedure myself if necessary. thanks again, cj