im confused now :/

ok so i have amerigroup medicaid and ive called like 5 times to see what the requirements were to get gastric bypass, all 5 times they said i dont have to do any pre requirements except get a doctor referal, which i got today. im going through southwest bariatrics in Austin, and ive been hearing i have to do these classes or have a supervised diet for 6 months ect ect.. I dont have time for all of that i need it like now! so please help me understand!

What you do is you give Southwest your referral and they work with your insurance/Medicaid and tell you exactly what you will have to do to be approved for surgery--but get ready--you will have to do some things for surgery--most likely a SIX month supervised diet, a sleep apnea study, a nutritionist visit (mandatory) and a exercise physiologist visit (mandatory) and a psychological exam (mandatory). Your surgeon will decide if there are any other requirements that also must be met. You will be assigned a patient advocate at SB that will help you navigate the system. The only way you could do the surgery pretty much immediately is if you were self pay, and still I'd be surprised if the surgeon didn't at least ask for a psychological and a sleep study.

I very much agree with evry thing Tammy told you. Have you gone to  seminar with the bariatric group (Southwest)? I'm not familair with them, personally, but most all larger practices have seminars nowadays.

Also-NOT NOT NOT to discourage you-but you have said Medicaid is your SECONDARY payer, with BCBS as your primary insurance, under your dad's policy. I do Medicaid billing, as part of my job (non bariatric) and Tx Medicaid never pays, first, if someone else is the primary payer. I'm actually a little surprised you are ON both policies. Before you go and further-and get more frustrated-I think you should talk to the "insurance specialist" at Southwest Bariatrics. He/she deals with this stuff EVERY DAY, and should have answers for you. After that, PLEASE come back here, and SHARE your what you find out-so we all can benefit from it.

One last thing-I have said all this with the assumption you are of a legal,  adult age-and can sign contracts, etc. If not-you not-and you have to use the BCBS-you'll need to involve your dad, as he is the policy holder.

Best of luck to you..and..stop..BREATH...you can DO this !! Most of had to jump thru many, many hoops, and we'll help YOU jump too!

Another reason for all the hoops to jump through before surgery is to see how compliant of a patient you will be.  For a WLS of any type to work - you have to know how to work it and work it right.  Eating right, exercise etc.