Help!!! I am getting disappointed...

Hi again, Trust me I know what you are talking about. We delcared ch.7 in april of last year when the hospital(amongst other collectors) started a lawsuit against us. I ended up owing them more money to the hospital alone than my husband makes in a year. It was a nightmare. We did this right before the bankruptcy laws changed so we were lucky. Now it is really hard to declare ch. 7 w/out jumping through a million and one hoops. Nowadays, that hospital is being a sneaky devil b/c they are sending me stupid bills(ct-scans, ICU x-rays etc) from my initial stay that I forgot to include in the bankruptcy papers b/c they stopped sending them to me then...but b/c I didnt include in the bankruptcy work-up I am still responsible. That hospital just wants to annoy me in any way possible and its working. So my advice is wait for the approval. God forbid you have complications and end up staying there longer than the 2-3 days or have to go back again for reason dealing w/the bypass, you will end up in a horrible situation financially. Like I said we have health insurance (and quite a good one) and it still ruined us finanically. I know for a fact if my husband didnt work for a very large company my insurance would have dropped me a loooong time ago b/c I have become their worst nightmare. I know dealing w/insurance companies are very annoying, trust me I know, but dont let them run the show. Ask for name of the person who speak to and their ext. #, so when you call them again you will become this persons problem. They will want to solve your problem b/c they will just want you to leave them alone already. It works like a charm. I wish you nothing but the best!!

Lil' Thanks for responding... I just called Dr. Brathwaite's office to find out if there is anything I could do to move the whole process along. They said I have to speak to Barbara, but she was not there. I was just calling to find out if I can do anything to help. Like what information I could gather to help the process a long... How long did the whole process take you? Did you have to get any information yourself? I will be done with the last of the meetings/dr.visits on 07/19, so I just want to do whatever I can to move the process along. I only met Dr. Brathwaite once but I really liked him. I felt completely comfortable with him. Everyone has such wonderful things to say about him. Thanks so much for your help!!! Vanessa

Vanesa: First take a deep breath, do not waste your energy or time on something that may or may not happen. Focus all your energy positively that the best will happen. use your energy IF and WHEN you may need it. Surgery may cost $50K (mine did 3.5 yrs ago)...there is no estimate if you have complications etc. But for me it would well be worth 6 months of an opportunity to adjust my lifestyle to prepare for this and save the whatifs...start the diet documenation NOW if you need to....what is your insurance policy say about diets? WLS? is it excluded? If not and your BMI is 40 or 35 and u have comorbs there usually isnt an issue! HUGS! Jamie

Thanks for your response, everyone has been really helpful... The more feedback I get and the more I think about it, I think I am just going to do my best to work with the insurance company. I think I am just panicking. Thank you Vanessa

Hi vanessa I also had dr braithwaite he is a really good docter. I had my surgery on 1/3/2006. After all the testing is done barbara will summit your paper work to your insurance company you also have to finish all your meetings. I have the same insurance company i needed a letter from my primary docter saying i tryed everthing and they reccomend me gastric bypass my insurance approved me. With no promblem. I had no promblems just 100 pounds overweight . Michele

I started my process in late February and had my surgery 6/6/06. It would have been sooner had I made my Cardio visits early on, I waited and didn't realize there were so many visits. Also, when they scheduled me for my stress test, they thougt they could do it in the cardiologist's office and when I came in, and they weighed me, they said they didn't realize I weighed over 300 lbs (even though I have my chart right there, with my weight)! So I had to make the appointment at a hospital and that delayed me 2 weeks! The only thing I suggest is when they do have all your paperwork, all your tests come back, then you can call them to "push" them, Barbara does the insurance stuff, and even though she sounds a little "spacey", she does handle the whole process, and must be good, bc I got approved and my sister got approved, and my sister has one of those pain in the neck insurance companies. She knew of people who had to wait over a year for approval! But it's a good idea to talk to her now to see if there is anything you can do! Best of luck, you will do great!

MY SURGURY COSTS paid out to by the insurance company was about 27,0000. THATS not including pre op appointments, post op care just the surgery and hospitol stay. GOOD LUCK and i hope your insurance pays!

Thanks for your response! I also qualify as far as lbs. overweight but right now i don't have any major co- morbidities (thankfully). I have lots of aches and pains (back, legs, ankles, etc..) and some skin issues but thats it. I am hoping that the insurance will still accept me. Thanks again! Vanessa

I would try to get it approved if I were you.I'm just starting but my Insurance company gave me my first approval in 48 hours. Let the Doctor's office deal with the insurance,It goes much quicker. Also Lap Band surgery is a lot less money,I'm not sure a think around $20,000. Good Luck, Tina