cant find a surgeon who will take insurance

I called all the surgeons within an hour of me that I know of and none of them will bill insurance. I need help finding a surgeon. I am right on the border of NY and PA. If you know of a surgeon around the Binghamton NY or Scranton PA area (or surrounding ares) that will bill insurance please tell me. I can NOT afford to pay out of pocket. We lost every thing we owned in a flood and had to start over. We are still trying to get back on our feet 3 years later. So paying out of pocket is not an option for me or I would of done that already. I need to get the extra skin off my tummy. I have issues where my previous incisions where (from c sections and hysterectomy) and a very deep belly button. The extra skin I have now fold over these area and doesnt allow air to get to them. I get red,itchy, nasty smelling, ooze in these areas.

Thanks in advance for any information

Did you get a list of PS from your insurance? Should be able to find it on their physician search online. Most if they are listed as in network have to take assignment (payments) directly from insurance.

You don't mention what kind of insurance you have and that's really the first place to start.   Most PS is not covered by insurance unless you have 6 mos or more of documented rashes (written and pictures), infections, or a chiro or orthopedic doc making recommendations that the hanging fat is interfering with your health in some way and MUST go (for instance, that you CAN'T exercise because it throws your back into spasms-and not exercising is raising your blood pressure - you get the idea-sometimes even that's not enough).  Some PS docs will extend credit, some folks take out a low interest credit card, put the surgery on it and pay it off asap.   Dr. Charles Herman at the Pocono Medical Center has done excellent work on several folks from the PA board and he also has an office in Manhattan.   I hear your pain on not affording it, my boob fund has been emptied 3X due to unforeseen cir****tances not of my fault....hubby's layoffs, the car dying, yada, yada...I just keep starting over.  Good Luck to you.

I have BC/BS Federal insurance. They typically do not cover PS. However with the skin issues I am having there is a good chance I can get the extra skin taken off my stomache. I am not looking for a full TT. I am just interested in getting rid of the skin issues that are causing the red rashes, oozing sores,smelly & itching previous incision lines. I have been taking pictures. Dr's office has documented. Dr's have perscribed meds. My primary doc has recommended removal of the extra skin.

Unfortunately cause our home was condemned by the flood (which our home owners didnt not cover since we didnt have flood insurance...the insurance agent lived down the street from me, he too had no flood insurance...it was a 500 year flood and so unexpected) I worked in the home. So not only did we loose our home, I lost my job. I had a daughter in college and a teen son at home. Needless to say our credit took a huge beating cause I lost my job of 18 years. Yes I have found 3 part time jobs, and we are tying to get back on our feet but my 3 jobs now dont pay the same as the one I lost. I was making 5 times the amount I am making now. We lost our home, vehicles, and everything in them. I am lucky I could afford my co-pays for my WLS. Which I have paid off along the way. I am not trying to make this sound like a sob story as life must go on but I really cant afford to pay for this out of pocket. My son graduates this June and plans to go to college. My daughter is getting married this June too. I dont know how we are going to be able to get through these major events with our heads above the water.


I will continue to search for a PS that will take insurance even if it means driving a couple hours.  I will attempt having my insurance pay for the surgery and if it fails I will appeal and appeal to get this done. I can wait to get other plastics when I can afford it but this skin issue on my stomach is nasty and needs to be removed.

Sounds like you are on the right track.   I remembered another Pa doc that another friend is using that also has a good rep and she IS getting her TT covered by insurance - check out Dr. Chapin (www.drchapin.com).   He's in Doylestown.  Also has a great rep. and experience w/WLS patients as he used to do PS at Barix Clinic in Langhorne.

Thank You Jackie! I will give him a call.

she is definitly right.....dr chapin is awesome...i had 4 procedures performed by him....i live in nj 150 miles away and i have been there many times and every trip was worth it.......he is such a great dr....if you have any questions you can reach me at aol my screen name is planepatty1......i had arms and breast done 2 yrs ago and tummy tuck and theigh lift 4 months ago.....also had revision done in office on my side love handles at no charge cause i wasnt happy with the way my sides looked....he didnt have a problem fixing it at no charge...it was a simple procedure buy he is a great dr and all of his staff is awesome.......ask to speak to dory tell her patty from nj told you to call...she will answere all your questions....she is very knowledgable........keep in touch.....patty

Thanks Patty!!!

It's nice to have your imput.

I will deff let them know you spoke very highly of their crew :)

hi jackie my name is patty.....i was just reading the question that was posted and came along your reply.....you are definitly right about dr chapin....he is an awesome dr....i had 4 procedures done by him and i am very satisfied with him  and his staff dory the manager is great along with every one there...they are all so pleasant and helpful.......the only problem was my insurance wouldnt cover it but it was worth every dollar it costs me......my husband has a hernia and will  be covered along with tummy fat removal.........patty

I had the same problem - no one in my home town took my insurance, and the nearest one was 1 1/2 hours away - and when I looked online I wasn't particularly pleased with his results, PLUS his insurance guy said the insurance wouldn't pay so....

I went for a consult to another one that is 4 hours away - and he said insurance WOULD pay, so he's doing my TT (plus he comes HIGHLY recommended by many on the Michigan board). 

Luckily for me my daughter lives 30 minutes from him and I'll be staying with her during recuperation....

You may need to expand your search area - but I did go online to my insurance provider and check out who did take the insurance.  You may need to call them if you can't find anyone.  The search part of my insurance is lacking in its abilities....