"My surgery is scheduled for August 26. Dr. Schechner's staff has been so very helpful. I was planning to pay out-of-pocket and Jenny suggested that I switch policies. It just so happened that our insurance renewal was coming up at work, so I switched from Healthkeepers HMO to Blue Cross/Blue Shield KeyCare 20. Jenny kept checking to see when my new policy was in the system. She called me two days later to tell me that I had been approved. I weigh 320lbs, am 5 feet 7 inches, and 55 years old. I am on medication for high blood pressure, and have beginnings of arthritis in my hip, but other than that I really have no other apparent major health problems associated with my obesity. Dr. Schechner called me and asked when I would like to have the surgery. He was so very nice, and really seemed disappointed that he hadn't been the one to tell me the good news that I had been approved. I will go to Sentara Leigh hospital on the 20th for tests in the morning, and meet the doctor that afternoon. I told him that I was making a list of questions, and he said be sure to bring it with me. I have heard nothing but very good things about him and his staff, and so far my experiences have been very positive."
