Hi,
I am actually looking for a buddy myself.  I just took the first step today with turning in my paperwork to wellstar to see if I will be accepted in to their program.  I have been thinking about this since 2008 and at that time I dropped the idea after a few months, but I have started looking at this option again at the beginning of the year and have done alot of research before going to a seminar. I believe I am going to go the same way sassy did because of my situation.
I was also very happy with the resources that I found on one of the surgeons pages, you may want to take a look at some of them http://www.advancedobesitysurgery.com/resources.asp
I hope this helps!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! I really, Really appreciate I am going to look into these other doctors and I hope to hear good news back. Thank you again.

Or you can try Dr. Larry Hobson, I am having surgery with him. The other doc is Titus Duncan. They take Humana. because I have Humana Medicare. My first option was Dr. Smith, went through the seminar, application and all, and he turned me dwn, due to me having cardiomyopathy, he thought I would be a better candidate at a "teaching facility" like Emory or Atlanta Medical. I think he just wasnt comfortable with my condition. I was mad at first but I thought about it and mow Im thankful because if he wasnt comfortable operating on my, I wouldnt want him to do so anyways.

Dana, try Dr. Champion's office.  I am using him and have surgery scheduled for July.  They are very professional and knew about all insurance requirements right up front.  My insurance will only cover the surgery at a hospital of excellence.  They don't tell you that up front.  If you ask about another hospital they just say not covered.  It is worth a try.  From what I have read there is not a blanket exclusion with Humana.  Good Luck!!
   

Humana:

Per Policy Bulletin insurance requires 6 month medically supervised diet, Primary Care Physician clearance and psych evaluation.  Sleeve and StomaphyX are investigational and not covered.

Hello everyone!

My name is Dana and I've wanted to have Roux-en-Y surgery for a couple years now. I've finally contacted a couple different surgeons in the area (Austell/Marietta, GA) and came across a Dr. Dennis Smith and a Dr. Champion. I contacted Dr. Smith first because I work for Wellstar Heath System and he is a Wellstar surgeon, I was also hoping that because he is part of my healthcare system it would be no problem with insurance. Boy was I wrong. They called me today and told me that my insurance won't cover the surgery and I will have to be self pay. Honestly I am crushed. I have a BMI of 56 and I have been on EVERY diet and taken EVERY pill. I don't understand why they wouldn't cover this procedure and wanted to know if anyone has ever gone through any of this and if so what can I do. My insurance is Humana if that helps. Please help me!!!