Question:
I don't know where to start!!!

I would really like to have surgery but i don't know where to get started. What do i do first? I have PHP insurance of Michigan and don't even know if they cover it. Do i talk to my pcp first or find a surgeon and talk to them first. I am so confused    — charri09 (posted on April 15, 2000)

April 15, 2000
The first thing I did was look over my insurance policy to see if there were any exclusions for wls and there were. It had to be medically necessary for them to approve it. Then I went to the AMOS website to locate surgeon in my area. Then I read what the support group members had to say about him and then I made an appt for my initial consult. I also checked out the insurance info on the AMOS website also to find out the likelyhood of me being approved. My insurance is a ppo so I did not need a referral to see the surgeon. I discussed the surgery with my PCP after I saw the surgeon.This may sound like a commercial but AMOS is like a ONE STOP SHOPPING PLACE for people who are planning to have surgery. You can search for a surgeon, local peers, insurances that have a good approval rate, they even have sample insurance letters to send to the insurance companys. So if you do a little HOMEWORK You will find most of the things you need to know through this site.
   — blank first name B.

April 15, 2000
The first thing I did was look over my insurance policy to see if there were any exclusions for wls and there were. It had to be medically necessary for them to approve it. Then I went to the AMOS website to locate surgeon in my area. Then I read what the support group members had to say about him and then I made an appt for my initial consult. I also checked out the insurance info on the AMOS website also to find out the likelyhood of me being approved. My insurance is a ppo so I did not need a referral to see the surgeon. I discussed the surgery with my PCP after I saw the surgeon.This may sound like a commercial but AMOS is like a ONE STOP SHOPPING PLACE for people who are planning to have surgery. You can search for a surgeon, local peers, insurances that have a good approval rate, they even have sample insurance letters to send to the insurance companys. So if you do a little HOMEWORK You will find most of the things you need to know through this site.
   — blank first name B.

April 16, 2000
One of the best places to start when researching WLS is the insurance company. Obtain a copy of your policy and read every word to see if it is covered or the limitations. In the meantime, get yourself educated about all the different types of surgical options available. This site has an extensive database and I always encourage people to check out the database, Your question has been asked many times and there are so many great answers already for you to look over!! You will also find answers to questions you don't even know you have. Another great place to start is to click on the homepage here and input your state. Then you can connect to see other people who live in your area, the doctors they have used, find out about their insurance companies and so much more. Good luck and happy reading. An educated consumer is your best defense against false, misleading, and downright dumb information and doctors, too.
   — Fran B.