Question:
waiting for plastic surgery approval thru BCBS michigan--needs advice.(DR DINICK)

i have lost 170lbs in one year thanks to Rny at BTC in ypsi-DR csorba. OK. I went for my Ps consult on blackout thursday and my stuff has been submitted on the 28th of August to BCBS traditional MI. I am currently seeing Dr. Vincent Dinick-please tell me your experience with him and his staff And BCBS MIchigan traditional insurance, and also how your plastic surgery turned out-send before and after pics if ya got em--i reaaaaally need assurance and I am trying really hard to be optimistic and Hopeful for a speedy insurance approval--help!!!    — NANA H. (posted on September 7, 2003)

September 8, 2003
Hi, awesome weight loss!!!! I asked a similar question out of curiousity a few months back, some very nice people replied. Here's the link.... http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/question.phtml?N=c1043985432&Search_Word=michigan
   — Cupcake B.

September 8, 2003
Dr. Dinick was my plastic surgeon, and I think he's wonderful. He did an abdominoplasty (with an anchor-shaped incision) and a hernia repair for me in January at BTC in Ypsilanti. I have seen him at his Southfield office for all of my post-op appointments. He's very kind and very thorough, and will make sure that everything is just right. I've not had to work with his Southfield staff for insurance approval, but with my follow-up care, they've been fantastic. I'd recommend him highly! BTW, I don't have before and after pics posted online, but if you go to the Warren BTC support group, I'm usually there and happy to show off my scars and such.
   — Claire P.

September 11, 2003
Hello! Dr. Batay-Csorba did my surgery 3 years ago and and over the past 10 weeks I've had brachioplasty (arm lift), breast implants, abdominoplasty and thigh liposuction....abdominoplasty and lipo was 12 days ago. Anyway, all policies are different....even all BCBS Traditional policies. It depends on what the particular employer is paying for. I have Traditional BCBS through Ford Motor Co. and the only thing they would pay for is the abdominoplasty. They said that the arm lift and implants were not a covered benefit (though I am appealing this), and I knew they wouldn't pay for cosmetic thigh lipo. They will usually pay for breast lifts (if there's recurring documented rashes) and breast reductions (if there's documented back and shoulder problems). Just so you have an idea, call Dr. DiNick's office and ask them for the diagnosis code AND the procedure code for each procedure that you are trying to get covered then call BCBS to find out if these are covered benefits (YOU MUST HAVE BOTH CODES FOR EACH PROCEDURE or they won't give you any information, so you might as well call them prepared!) Of course, they won't tell you if it will be covered, but if you give them both codes for each procedure they can look them up and say either "not a covered benefit" or "it may be covered if you meet certain criteria"....in which case, ask them what that criteria is. That way, if you do get a denial on something that they said was a covered benefit and you feel you meet the requirements that they tell you about, then you have this information for an appeal. And as always, note the date and time of your call to BCBS and get the name of the person you speak to. Good luck to you!
   — Lynette B.