Question:
USED MEDICARE FOR SURGERY

ANYONE USED MEDICARE FOR SURGERY IN ATLANTA GA    — mashell3752 (posted on January 1, 2009)

January 1, 2009
I am not in your area but I just had my surgery and am on Medicare. I did extensive checking with medicare and they have several rules you must meet. You should call medicare and double check to make sure nothing has changed for this year though. You need a BMI over 40, have co-morbiditys like high bp, diabetes, sleep apnea. You must use a medicare approved "center of excellence" in Bariatric Surgery. That was my hardest one to meet...the closest to me was over 100 miles from my home. Because I am disabled and on Medicare, my disability retirement insurance which is a supplement said they would pay if Medicare paid, so I should only have some small bills like the Nutritionist which Medicare won't cover that I have to pay. (I had already met my co-pays for the year) Once you find a "Center of Excellence" (which Medicare may be able to tell you which qualify) those Dr's will be able to tell you if you meet all Medicare's qualifications. It's a lot easier to meet Medicare's requirements than most general insurance policys. No special demands for #'s of months on supervised diets, etc. Good Luck
   — angelvh2

January 1, 2009
I am on Medicare in Wa. no proplems no loop holes Just had to find a doc to preform srgery. I went to University of Washington Medical center,Seattle.Good luck start with calling medicare and asking their requirements. Tammi
   — Tammi Sandoval

January 1, 2009
I am in Missouri and had my RNY in 2005 on Medicare and Medicaid. It saved my life. My bmi was almost 50 and I am diabetic and had high blood pressure. I have lost a total of 130 pounds from 309 to 185. I now weigh 199 so you do gain some back. Thank god I am not gaining anymore. I still would like to lose the additional 50 and am still working on it. I just turned 45. Hope this helps.
   — trishhooper

January 1, 2009
i HAD WLS IN ATLANTA. I HAD TO USE DR. WILLIAM AS HE WAS THE ONLY DR. I COULD FIND WHO ACCEPTED IT. EMORY JOHNS CREEK IS A CENTER OF EXCELENCE AND MEDICARE APPROVES THEM. I WAS APPROVED QUIT EASILY. DR.WILLIAM DID ALL THE APPROVAL.
   — cecilie

January 10, 2009
I live in Phoenix AZ and I have literally been searching for a surgeon who works at a center of excellence for a year and a half (for Medicare to cover it)! Now I am going to sound like I am running a commercial, but I am not, and let me tell you... Finally, I have found a hospital in Detroit , MI called Harper University Hospital, and I found this hospital through a company website called Belite Medical Weight Loss. They deal specifically with Medicare patients and only charge an out of pocket cost of about 1300.00, instead of the 6,500.00 thsat all of the surgeons in Arizona state charge! Also, they are willing to make a payment plan for everyone to pay the 1,300.00 over one year's time! Awesome! I called about 3 weeks ago and I am currently scheduled for my Lap Band on Jan 26th, so excited! Plane flight a month in advance to DTW was literally only 220.00 on Expedia. How is that for a deal??? Did I mention that their deal includes a one night stay in the hospital, and two night's stay at a hotel/recovery place called the International Hotel, plus travel to and from the airport. I will update everyone here on how my stay went around the first of February!
   — andees2009