Question:
Is there any wl surgeon that accepts Cigna PPO that doesn't require the $2000.00 dow

Dr K's office at Delano Hospital requires so much money down. $2000.00 plus at time of consult. I want this type of surgery so bad but it will take months to save this up. Why should I have to pay this much with having Cigna PPO and Medicare as my secondary. Are there any other surgeons that don't want as much down? I got an e-mail from a gal who had wls and all she had to pay was $150.00 upfront. Please help! Thanks alot Claire    — gramof3 (posted on October 11, 2002)

October 11, 2002
Claire, I also have Cigna PPo, I dont know where you are located at but there are 2 locations that I have found so far. Hurley Medical Center in Flint. This Hospital is covered just make sure the surgeon is, the office staff say that all their Dr.s accept Cigna but so when I went out onto the Cigna web site, it shows that Dr. Sorenson and Dr. Farhan are the only ones. I have a consultation for Oct. 30 with Dr. Farhan but I will need to change that date to sometime in NOv. Also they are scheduling for surgery in Jan, right now. The other place is Beaumont Hospital, with Dr. Kevin krause who does it Laproscopically(sp) He is booked way out have a consultation for him in Feb 2003 so who know when surgery will be, read his info from some patients and some aren't scheduled until Oct. 2003. I haven't been able to confirm that he is covered by Cigna they don't show him as covered at least they didn't a couple of months ago. But his office staff say that he accepts Cigna PPo. Oh yeah, I was going through Dr. Wood at Live Lite who does his surgery through BI-County. He takes Cigna but he Hospital is out of Network, got the break down for there today and my partion of the hospital bill would be anywhere from $4000.00 to $6000.00 with no complications. So needless to say I am looking at Dr. Krause and the Drs. at Hurley Medical Center, since these should be no out of pocket expence. Then again it always depends on your plan that you have. Dr. Woods office will contact Cigna and get the break down for you. Hope this has helped. Suzanne
   — Sue72694