Group Health DS DOC?

Well, I'm a little bummed. I just got off the phone with Group Health, there is NO out of network coverage for Baratric Surgery.

Problem is I cant find a "IN Network" doc that will do the switch in Washington. The DS Surgery itself is an option on plan IF I can find a DS DOC. Does anyone know any?

I don't want the RNY or Band! If I have to do this I wan the one that works long term. The one that lets your little tummy work More normally :(

Why don't you consider the lapband?  Go on lapband forum and read stuff. 

I don't want RNY, unless its a last resort.

Hope you find a doc, I kinda wish I'd known about other surgeries like the DS and VSG I think I would have been happier with one of them. If my ins. hadn't changed it might have been OK but so far I've now had to pay over $700 for fills and still isn't right. So may as well get the tiny tummy to begin with and work with that!

Maybe someone would do the sleeve even if you can't find a DS doc in network. (don't know the amount of wt you want to loose or how many calories you want to eat postop - but the sleeve leaves a normal - but small - tumy)

I've heard of folks with this same issue with Group Health. They pretty much make you get the rny or band or nothing. I had Group Health at one time, but had  moved on to no insurance by the time I got my DS. I went self-pay out of the country in order to get revised from the band to the DS. My BMI was 73.2 at the time I got the band in 2/98, it worked until 10/98 when it started mechanically failing with a leak and then I regained all 170lbs I had lost over the next 7 years. I was back up to a bmi of 73.2 when Dr. Baltasar in Spain took out my band and gave me the DS. It's been almost 4 years now and I love my DS!! 

Dr. Srikanth in WA does the DS, Dr. Oh does the DS reluctantly, and I think there may be a few others in WA that are starting to.

At least, since Group Health covers bariatric surgery, they won't deny you coverage afterwards of any follow up issues.