Need Some Oregon Info Please

Hi! I am currently waiting surgery in the California Bay Area. I will be moving to Oregon after my surgery. I am considering whether or not it would be beneficial for me to move and then have my surgery in Oregon. I am going through Kaiser for my surgery. I would greatly appreciate your responses regarding the procedures for Oregon Kaiser system as well as the hospitals that are performing the surgery. I am looking to move to the Salem area. I have met all the requirements for our system here and am awaiting news about a surgery date. I hesitate to put my home on the market here until after my surgery, and yet I want to take advantage of the great real estate market right now and that is why I am considering whether I should pursue having surgery in Oregon. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks so much! Julie

Hi Julie, I live about 20 minutes from Salem... in Oregon's wine country. I used to have Kaiser insurance, but now have Lifewise. I've heard Kaiser can drag things out... but what insurance company doesn't? I would think Kaiser would be more apt to get you through in a facility down in CA (as they are more abundant there and surgery costs there - at least from my research are less 15K-20K for lapband. Oregon is running about 30K). As far as hospitals in Oregon... try Legacy Good Samaritan - in Portland. They just started an obesity center there in January. I went to a seminar... they seem to be really good. (Just too expensive for me, as I'm going to self pay as Lifewise won't cover). I've seen good comments about Dr. Emma Patterson there. My gut instinct would say wait it out though... keep being the "squeaky wheel" with Kaiser there, so they 'll schedule you and then you can plan your move. Hope this helps! -Angie

I had my surgery in Fresno in 2001. I just moved to Bend, OR 6 months ago. I have always been partial to Fresno (and doctor Frye)...if I were you I would have the surgery in CA...there are so many changes coming your way...if you're like me then you may want to have this "LIFE" changing surgery done in surroundings that you are familiar with...just a thought. kathy gallagher