Question:
Does MN Medical assistance pay for bariatric surgery and under what circumstances?
I am on MA in MN right now and am close to asking for insurance approval. I want to know if I have a chance. Also, is there any particular guidelines there are for having the surgery approved? I also want to know if it makes a difference if I have obstructive sleep apnea as opposed to regular sleep apnea in the consideration for the surgery. Any info on this is appreciated. — Angie B. (posted on March 28, 2001)
March 28, 2001
I dont know if this is going to come out rude, but I have to speak my
mind..You are on medical assistance and you want to have a procedure that
is well over 20,000. In all actually if you are approved for this surgery,
we (working people) will be paying for your surgery with our tax dollars.
Why dont you try to get off of medical assistance, get a job and then try
to get the WLS, instead of having us taxpayers pay for your surgery...Just
a thought...
— [Anonymous]
March 28, 2001
I can't believe this person posted this yes it was very RUDE who are you to
say these things to someone you don't know and have no idea what their
situation is, one of these days you may need help of this nature and I hope
you don't run into someone as ignorant as yourself. I myself have worked
all my life until for medical reasons I can't right now and I am on public
assistance too so I have paid in to it also, if you would do your homework
before you go spouting off about something you obviously know nothing about
maybe this sterotype that people like you have created would no longer
exist, besides that you signed your post anonymous which tells me you are
not a strong enough person to stand behind what you said in the first
place. Get a life and get a heart while you are at it. Chris Holcombe,
public assistance recipient
— Chris H.
March 28, 2001
Hi ,
I live in Minnesota and I am on Minnesota Care which is just like MA
except I pay a small fee every month for it. My doctor told me she thought
MA would pay for it if it is medically nesscary. But I am not sure. Right
now i am awaiting for a insurance approval or deny letter now. Right now I
am also getting cash assistance . I worked for 10 years at the same job
until I was unable to due to a leg problem. I have been off work now for 7
months, waiting to get this surgery so my leg can try to heal with out the
excess weight hampering it. it is pretty sad when people have nothing
better to do than cut others down when they have no idea what someone elses
life is like. maybe the person who poted that answer should get a life.
— C. L.
March 28, 2001
Amen! I agree with everyone else, that was a RUDE response. Although I
don't live in MN, I do live in a state where Medicaid covers this surgery
if medically necessary. I am a tax payer like everyone else, and I would
rather have my money go to help someone better their health and quality of
life, then some of the other things the government chooses to spend it on.
At least this way I can feel good about where my money is going. Just my
opinion.
— Lori E.
March 29, 2001
I hate the fact that people can post ignorant and hateful messages without
giving their names. I suppose this person thinks that folks on public
assistance shouldn't have heart bypasses or other surgeries that could save
their lives 'cause these surgeries cost more than 20,000. Better off dead,
he/she probably thinks.
— Kristy J.
March 29, 2001
One more vote for RUDE. You know, many people are unable to work because
of the morbid obesity and co-morbidities, and we know obese people are paid
less. Maybe surgery would assist this poster to get back to work and pay
for a smoker's lung transplant. Let' all be a little more careful about
handing out judgements. And Angie, you go for it. My Federal tax dollars
will be well spent on improving your life.
— kcanges
March 29, 2001
LOL :-) I too am on ASSISTANCE and I had WLS done November 20, 2000. What
the person who left the very rude response doesn't understand is that some
people suffer from depression and aren't able to work. That WAS my
situation. Since WLS I have been able to gain more confidence about myself
and I have even returned back to school. So to whom ever left that
anonymous RUDE response, maybe you should check your facts out and
understand what some people are going through before you open your mouth
because lots of people are getting ASSISTANCE for insurance. That is why we
have the Medicaid and Medicare programs, so that we can ASSIST people in
need of help.
— [Deactivated Member]
March 29, 2001
Hi, I had to put my two cents in about Anonymous's rude remark as well! I
DO work and I DO pay taxes, but I get medical assistance because where I
work doesn't offer medical insurance and I cannot afford to buy my own. I
have worked for 22 years paying taxes and I appreciate the fact that
medical assistant is there for me as well as others who are in need. I was
going to school but because of my weight, I have put it off until after I
can get this surgery. Maybe then I will be lucky enough to find a job that
does have medical coverage but until I do, I am grateful for medical
assistance. I guess some of us aren't as lucky as anonymous!
— Happy B.
March 29, 2001
Angie, hi I am not from your state, I live in Tx, but I say
give it a try!Dont let anything hold you back! Your local Rehab
agency (vocational) should help you most likely. Im currently
going through the one here and things look pretty good so far!
They have approved everyone that "I KNOW OF" AND this is for
you "RUDE ANONYMOUS" I am on state assistance, and up till now
was ashamed to be. But now I see that Im not the only one and that
"they" (the rest of this wonderful site, with one
exception)understand.
Sooo....maybe you'd like to go read me profile. Im actually asking
for help from the people on this site!! HAHA! Im such a "tax
waste"
I agree that "our" (OH..PLEASE! EVERYONE PAYS TAXES ONE WAY OR
ANOTHER!)
tax dollars should go on the cloning humans project, and maybe we could
clone a skinny self or a happier better attitude! There is so many other
things
to focus on than taxes (like watching our diets, so we wouldnt be here in
the first place)
Taxes will ALWAYS be here no matter FOR WHAT! At least right now
"TAXES" are here to help some who
REALLY need it! "JUST HAD TO SPEAK MY MIND!" (sorry to anybody
else,
hope I didnt offend and by the way, I dont support the HUMAN cloning
project)
your CYBER BUD CALI GIRL, (A TAX WASTE)
— CALIGIRL T.
March 29, 2001
In a country that values independence and self-reliance, I can see how that
"rude" suggestion was made. However, I do agree that there are
many people who simply require state assistance because they have no other
resources. When my business was failing, I would have lost my house had it
not been for a loan from my folks. Some people don't have people in their
life who have money and resources that can make the difference between
returning to work or staying on the dole. At 500+ pounds, I was fired for
"not being professional" enough. I needed a job and even though
I had excellent credentials and work history, even the state voc rehab
service wouldn't hire me. But I had a friend who owned a company who let
me come to work for him. Exactly 90 days after I started and medical
insurance kicked in (I had been without it for 4 years), I was hospitalized
for 10 days for cellulitis in my leg. Six months later, he let me take 4
weeks paid leave so I could have WLS, paid for on my medical insurance. I
consider myself to be self-reliant and independent, but I also know that I
could not be those things without the help of others. Strange how it
works, huh? Let's just consider this the opportunity for the anonymous
person with the rude suggest consider that maybe not every one is on the
dole because they are running an insurance racket, claiming to be sick or
injured when they are really capable of working at good jobs that have
insurance.
— merri B.
March 30, 2001
Pure and simple, sometimes life slams us in the face with circumstances
beyond our control. Everyone deserves a second chance at life and should
be given that opportunity. Sure there are those that abuse the system,
just as there are those who are truly in need. What goes around comes
around, and it's not up to us to judge others, nor is it up to us to judge
those who are judging others.
— [Deactivated Member]
March 30, 2001
Amen Denise B. I am amazed at some of the stuff I have read here.
— Lisa B.
March 30, 2001
If there existed a surgical procedure to correct Diabetes
or some other illness, no one would even question you.
When will some people realize we didn't choose to be obese.
No more than one chooses to have diabetes. But, thank God,
we can choose to use this surgical tool to assist us into a
more normal life in a more normal sized body. I say "go for
it, lady". You are welcome to my tax dollars.
— Margie W.
March 30, 2001
I DO NOT LIVE IN MN I LIVE IN NM I JUST HAD TO RESPOND TO THE RUDE COMMENT
MADE ON THE 28TH. THIS SIGHT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SUPPORTIVE AND LOVING IN
NATURE. WE ALL COME HERE TO GAIN KNOWLAGE AND SHARE IN OUR UPS AND DOWNS.
WE ARE ALL HERE BECAUSE WE OURSELVES OR A LOVED ONE IS MORBIDLY OBESE. I
HAVE BEEN TO THIS SIGHT MANY TIMES BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH AS THIS
COMMENT. OBESITY CROSSES ALL BOUNDERIES, RACES, CULTURES, RELEGIONS,
ETHNIC CLASSES, SOCIAL CLASSES AND THE ALL IMPORNANT ECONIMIC CLASSES.
I WORK FOR A LIVING SOMETIMES TWO JOBS. THAT IS UNTILL I HAD TO QUIT MY
PART TIME JOB FOR MEDICAL REASONS YOUR REMARKS ARE VERY STUPID!
— lawanda101
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