Question:
does anyone know how long it takes medicare to approve for gastric bypass surgery?

i have medicare and share of cost and im wondering how long from the time everything is put in does it take to approve.i live in pensacola,florida and plan on going thru Dr.Lord @ sacred heart hospital    — CINDY LEE (posted on March 13, 2010)

March 13, 2010
HELLO I have medicare too ,had to do 18months of nut with DR HUYNH [NUTRITION] AND ALSO HAVE DR LORD
   — twinkle6810

March 13, 2010
Hi I have medicare what I was told is that medicare does not preapprove surgery u need to find a doctor that accepts it then go from their the doctor will have u do all the test needed etc then after surgery they will bill medicare The doctors know what todo to get approved the clinic u choose anyways does, I had RYN july 08 staryed at 368 I weigh 174 and am very happy I got in right away started seeing the nut, nutritionalist etc. about 2 months i would have been ready but my doc had to have surgery so it took 6 months have a great day best wishes, u can call medicare and ask what they require
   — Tammi Sandoval

March 14, 2010
first orientation in june. i used medicare and v a. i had to pay alltold around 20% had rny nov 24at henry ford hospital warren mi. dr pesta . no complications ,no dumping whatsoever.in one day out the next. 3 one month visits he told me come back in 6 months.unless problems appear, i'm down 80+ lbs. it doesn't get better than this.
   — hanksguns

March 14, 2010
I have medicare and it took me less than two weeks to be approved for surgery. I am retired navy so TriCare paid for everything medicare did not cover. This was the best thing I have ever done, I feel at least thirty years younger. Good Luck
   — Jim Christian

March 14, 2010
I have Humana Medicare advantage, did not take but a phone call to get approved, they told me if my BMI was at least 35 I was automatically approved. After my surgery Humans called me they have there own Bariatric Team that follows up with you, it was great and they will be calling me back. So far it has not costed me anything except for 35.00 copay when I first visited my surgeon and 35.00 co pay to see the Phyci doctor.
   — bangel65

March 14, 2010
I also had Humana Advantage and they approved in no time. My Dr.'s office did all the work for approval. Medicare just requires a BMI over 35 and co-morbidity like Diabetis, High BP, etc. I had RNY Dec. 29, 2009 and have lost 62 lbs. since Thanksgiving weekend. My doc requires a month of Optifast prior to surgery. For the first time in my life I am excited to step on the scales.
   — mountainmama4

March 17, 2010
With medicare it took about 1 week,or less, see you have to find a Dr that takes medicare and they will be more than willing to help you get what you need form medicare, because the staff often knows how medicare works. My doctor and staff, worked magic, before I had a chance for things to sink in, I was sent a letter telling where and when to go to the hospital for my pre-op.........I was dang already!
   — [email protected] Folston-Johnson