Question:
I have Health Net insurance and need to find a participating surgeon!

My insurance will only pay for the procedure if its done by a participating surgeon and has been pre autherised. I personally feel I can prove medical necessity and would like to have a consultation with a surgeon experienced in bariatric surgary to see if I can have the procedure done. Any help would be greatly appreciated!    — ERIN M. (posted on October 9, 2001)

October 9, 2001
You should ask your PCP (primary care physican) to refer you to a surgeon considering he or she will be the one giving you your medical clearance for surgery. I sat down with my PCP and explain my decision regarding wanting to have this surgery. My doctor knowning my medical history for he'd been treated me for 9 years now for morbid obesity related illness such as hypertension, osteo-arthiritis, sleep apena etc so he knows my struggles and after my last hospitalization this past June, he also agreed it was a good idea and he assisted me. I didnt like the surgeon he recommended. Not that he wasnt an experience surgeon it was more of a personality clash. So I found the surgeon I have now from this website and let my pcp know my choice and he was great with it. Where do you live? You should use the "Find a Doctor" area of this site and check out what other members are saying about that particular doctor. Thats now I found my wonder surgeon Dr. Michael Leitman. He got rave reviews from the members here who have posted of his mannerism and making them feel like they were in control etc. Well that's just 2 suggestions, either ask your PCP for assistance or use this website for find a doctor 0)
   — Gwen M.

October 10, 2001
The best thing to do is find out what doctors your insurance will let you see. I spent way to much time on locating one myself and turned out that my insurance only contracted with one doctor anyway. He is a great doctor and I am very happy with their choice but I wish I had known sooner and not wasted all that time. God Bless
   — Kelly C.