MEDICARE DOES pay as secondary

Depending on your state. I am in Missouri. I just got off of an 2 hour adventure on the telephone being transferred from one place to the other and they said medicare will cover 80%-just like if it were my primary!!  YIPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEE!!!! My advice-if in doubt-DO NOT CALL the medicare number on your card, but instead call Social Security in your state because if you do it the other way your wait time will double and only the state office can answer the question. Now just to wait on approval from the doc..

Here is my original post so you know what I am talking about-after 2 hourts of elevator music I guess my brain is just fried.... Post Date: 2/23/07 10:50 pm I see this question asked over and over but I have never seen it answered for sure and I really need to know-please help... I have America's Choice as my primary. They have an exclusion so it will be denied. My doctor already sent them a letter and is waiting on the denial. I also have medicare, but it is my secondary. Will they pay for my bariatric surgery. I have called medicare. I have asked the hospital-no one seems to know, but I really need to know as I am already well into the process of having the DS which is about $45K. Medicare is supposed to pay 80% of that but I am unsure since it is my secondary.  I have a 72 BMI and meet all the requirements of medicare including going to a center of excellence (University of Chicago) and having other co-morbidities.  Thank You so much for your time and input-Amy

thank you for posting this cause i'm going through the same problem as well. i have bc/bs and i know that they will denie it so i have medicare for the secondery but my question is just like yours. are we responable for what is left  of the 80%? know one at medicare will give you a stright answer. and 2 i have to wait for my DR's office to let me know when they will be come a center of excellence. i will be going wednesday 28th for my sleep study.

 

                          thanks for the post                                                                   babyfox2

We are responsible for the 20% that is left which is about (loosely) $9000-$10,000 . A lot of money for me but I know God will provide somehow.  There are several companies that will finance and some of the hospitals do too. As for the sleep study-its not fun but just bothersome because you have all of those wires hooked to your head to record the data. I have to travel 550 miles for my surgery but I think it will be worth it. I hope your hospital gets its approval soon!!