Can anyone please te...

Can anyone please tell me where to start. I have bc/bl hmo and public aid and despertly wanting to get the lap band. Living in the nortwest suburbs of Il where do I start. If anyone has any suggestions please respond it will be greatly appreciated.

Shaulanda You first need to start with your Primary Dr you said you have HMO right. You need a referral and be ready to produce documenation on how you have tried to lose weight. Do you have any medical problems? If so that helps also. I have bcbsilhmo. And I just had my surgery on Friday 1/26/ 07. My surgery was done at Rush were my hmo referred me to. It took me 8 months. Not because I was deined because of my primary Dr. Let me know how it goes, And good luck,

Congrats, hope you are feeling better. My pcp told me that it would take a year or so and I have no conditions except for being over weight. So I figured it might be quicker to use my medical card (public aid) instead. When you get a chance can u tell me what I need to do cause my DR. don't know nothing I think he just likes getting my co pays lol. Thanks

Shaulanda I had the same problem with my primary Dr and her staff. There was only one person who help me get it done. It was her nurse. The other people in her office where straight up stupid. First of all my primary Dr said I should get a gastric bypass which I told her no! that was not what I wanted then she told me to change my insurance at open enrollment. Which I didn't, then she told me that the insurance will not aprrove it that I would have to do 6 months supervised diet. Which I didn't do because they never asked me to do that. I did all the paperwork I was nevered deined. It took me May of 2006 to Jan 2007 to get it approved. But I kept on it I called that office everyday. To ask if the insurance co would give me a referral. So let them know that they are there because of you. that the insurance co sends them a check every month whether you go to the Dr or not. That is why we pay premuims monthly for. There are some Dr's that do take the Medical card look on the website people will help you find out information. Good Luck!

Shaulanda, Hi I'm from Illinois and I started this whole process on 12/18/06 and now I'm waiting for my approval and yes I'm on Madicaid my caseworker is the one who helped me out she says that as long I could prove that I was 100 lbs. over weight and my BMI is high then I would be a good candidate for the surgery.My paperwork was sent in on 1/23/06 keep in touch and I'll keep you posted I was told I shoud hear something in 3 weeks and to have lap RNY around March So I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Henrietta

Hey, Thanks for responding. I have not found a single doctor that will accept the medical card if you get a chance can you email me some numbers or names. [email protected] thanks