Question:
HAS NAYONE IN TENN. WHO HAS MEDICARE AND MEDICADE BEEN APPROVED FOR WLS?

I HAVE MEDICARE WITH MEDICADE PAYING FOR ANYTHING UNPAID BY MEDICARE. HAS ANYONE GOTTEN APPORVAL VIA THIS INSURANCE(S) IN TENNESSEE? [email protected]    — peggy A. (posted on December 19, 2003)

December 19, 2003
I have medicare as my primary and medicaid as my secondary......I had my surgery 6 months ago.Medicare requires no preapproval.you just get the surgery then everything gets sent to medicare.If they find it to be medically necessary,which they usually do then they will pay the 80%...then your medicaid secondary insurance has to pick up the rest.Don't let your medicaid secondary tell you that you need to get preaproval through them first before you can have surgery.This is not true.You can read more on this in my profile.
   — jennifer A.

December 20, 2003
Hey, I have the same insurance, medicare as my primary and a medicaid HMO as my secondary. Before they would do my surgery, I had to have preapproval from my secondary insurance since my primary does not preapprove. I got the approval from my secondary in under a week and I had my surgery 10-23-03, and am down 52lbs already. this is the best decision I ever made. I just wanted to say that these programs are through the federal government and therefore should cover the same procedures no matter what state you live in, as long as you meet the criteria for the surgery. Good luck and keep us posted!! lisa (postop 10-23-03lap/rny 334/282/140)
   — Lisa H.