Missouri Medicaid
(deactivated member)
on 3/21/07 12:10 pm
on 3/21/07 12:10 pm
I just have a question. Has anyone here had WLS using Mo Medicaid? I have heard that if you really need the surgery they will maybe okay you. Does anyone know what you can do to help them say yes? Like anything they must have to okay you. How long does it take? (I know everyone is different), but has anyone used this insurance? I am disabled and was wondering. I just want to try and get back to living my life. It is hard enough without being disabled. LOL Thanks for any help you can give. I read alot never post, but everyone is so helpful and nice here. God Bless and I wish you all good luck. Randi
Randi Im sure there is someone on here that has just had Mo. Medicaid. I dont know but im sure there is and someone will answer you about that. I just wanted to welcome you to the board. and quit being a lurker. Join in and get all the support you need for a new life. Life is hard and you wont find a nicer bunch than we have here in Missoouri to share all your problems with. Jan
Hi Randi,
Welcome to the Mo board!! I have Mo medicaid and I am going to Dr. Scott in Columbia. He is a great doctor. I really like him. I met him on the 7th and he is great. They have seminars in different places so people can attend from different cities. Unfortunately, medicaid doesn't cover the lap band. When you call them they will tell you they do but really they don't. I called every place in Mo. I think I personally will be happier with the RNY but thats just me. There are a lot of successful banders here too. I don't know the clinics number right off the top of my head but I do knwo the number to the hospital. You just call them and ask for the bariatric clinic and they will hook you up!!! Congrats on deciding to make a change in your life, and we all wish you the best of luck. THat number is 1-573-882-4141 and ask for the Bariatric Clinic.
Michelle
Hi Randi,
I had insurance through my job when I got my gastric bypass but one of the steps in getting the surgery was that I 1st had to go to a seminar the doctor was giving...there were several people there on Medicaid and when the floor opened up to ?'s that was one of the first....would he take medicaid patients. The doctor's answer was that it wasn't up to Medicaid but up to him....and my doctor wouldn't take Medicaid....he said it was because all that Medicaid would pay was something like $300 and with bypass it is surgery and a year's worth of follow ups....and his reasoning was 'would anyone in the room do a year's worth of work for $300' & his answer was that he wouldn't. So from that I guess it is just the doctor's decision since Medicaid does cover roux en Y so you would basically want to do a lot of calling around to find a doctor that is willing to take Medicaid. I don't know where you are located but you might want to be willing to travel to get it. I'm pretty sure that doctors in KC, St Louis, Columbia, Sedalia & Springfield (and maybe even Joplin, Cape Girardeau and West Plains) do it. Good luck!!! I'll hope for the best for you!!
Randi..Welcome to the board!!!
Yes Mo medicaid pays for WLS....I have Mo medicaid and I just got approved for my surgery......I still have a few more things to do before I get my date but they have alread approved me. And it did not take long after my first appt with Dr. Scott till I got my letter of approval..
The requirements are basicly the same as all the other insurances and the same for the WLS it's self....
Good luck with everything......Hugs & Love....Tammy H.
Hi Randi,
When I went to Dr. Hornbostel's seminar last yr, he mentioned that the state insurance was the least complexed to deal with. Something about them not making you jump through as many/all of the hoops like the other insurances.
Best of luck to you, Randi. You are in for a very fulfilling ride!
~~~T C.~~~
Hi Randi,
Myself and a couple of my friends had MO Medicaid and YES, they cover WLS, but am not sure about lap band....I would have to trust what the board says on that, because I didnt ask for that and my 3 other friends had RNY and sleeve, so no bandsters I know of yet. I paid almost $400 a month to Bluechoice insurance, and they denied my request for WLS 4 times in a couple of months. I did have medicaid as secondary due to disability-so someone told me to drop my primary insurance and just go with medicaid-and they covered it-in fact-from the time they got my paperwork from MO Bariatrics, until approval date-was 8 days!!! Thats unheard of...I wish you luck...You may want to call MO Bariatrics and see when and where their seminars are-and get your name on the list to attend-and then you can get the ball rolling...they are wonderful there!!! Their # is 573-882-5673, and as far as I know now-they cover ALL testings and classes you must attend. Good luck and let us know what happens, OK? Will be thinking of you-Love, Janet