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Topic: RE: Help! Surgery in less than two weeks and the hospital is hinting at not allowing it.
What Hospital? That doesn't sound right, try to talk to a patent advocat.
Topic: RE: Beaumont Hospital - Royal Oak, Dr. Chengelis
I was going to go with Dr. Chengelis for the RNY, but have now changed my mind after lots of research and want the DS instead of RNY. He doesn't do the DS, so I'm finishing my 6 month Dr supervised weight loss period (required by insurance) at the Beaumont center. I will be done with that phase in June and then I'm having the surgery with Dr Kemmeter in Grand Rapids. He's the only surgeon in MI that does the DS lap, there are 3 others closer the do it open, but I just don't see the point of having an open surgery when it can be done lap. I found that at the Beaumont informational meeting, they don't even tell you about the DS option because they don't do it. I've asked about it at my last couple monthly visits, they don't know that much about it there, so I'm done most of my research online. From the research I've done, it seems like a way better option for me. You may want to reasearch it as well before you make your decision, if your insurance covers it (they don't all cover it) - check out dsfacts.com - or look at the DS board on here.
Anyway, I read a lot of reviews on Dr Chengalis what I was still planning for RNY and he seems to be really good, I couldn't find a bad review about him on here.
If you go to the find a surgeon, you can read reviews about the surgeons that others have posted, I found that pretty helpful.
Good luck to you, I know it's a hard decision to make.
Anyway, I read a lot of reviews on Dr Chengalis what I was still planning for RNY and he seems to be really good, I couldn't find a bad review about him on here.
If you go to the find a surgeon, you can read reviews about the surgeons that others have posted, I found that pretty helpful.
Good luck to you, I know it's a hard decision to make.
5'5" -- HW 275/SW 246/GW 130/CW 157
Topic: Help! Surgery in less than two weeks and the hospital is hinting at not allowing it.
I presently have insurance.
In 2009 I was 2 weeks from having insurance when I landed in the hospital for a week's vacation with a major infection. I had thought the bill had been taken care of through an organization who works with low income people. I have not any statements from the hospital, have been there for tests, labs, etc. over the past two years. They have all my information, including work. So I haven't been avoiding them. I received a couple of small bills last year and paid them.
Registration called me yesterday to confirm everything for surgery and said I had quite the balance. Still convinced the bill had been taken care of, I contacted billing, who sent me to financial services. This woman is tough, not very friendly (not rude either). I have learned and confirmed the debt was in fact not covered, and now owe a balance in excess of 11k. I was denied assistance because they said I made too much money (then it was 13.00 an hr. Now it's 14.75.). I make more now, not much, but still. I offered to a payment plan of 150.00 per month and she all but said no and basically I got cornered into 256 a month, which I'm still not sure I can pull off. That's over half of a take home check.
She's hinting at not allowing my surgery to go through. Again, it's covered by my insurance, has been approved and they've acknowledged so. However, I feel she's dancing me around the flag pole with "I have to present this to my supervisor, and he's taken it to the director". Oddly enough, she was much chipper with that message.
The surgeon's office is in a thither about it. They said they've never heard of such a thing, it's been approved, etc. They're supposed to call me back in the morning.
Can they just prevent the surgical procedure??
That's my question. Thanks.
In 2009 I was 2 weeks from having insurance when I landed in the hospital for a week's vacation with a major infection. I had thought the bill had been taken care of through an organization who works with low income people. I have not any statements from the hospital, have been there for tests, labs, etc. over the past two years. They have all my information, including work. So I haven't been avoiding them. I received a couple of small bills last year and paid them.
Registration called me yesterday to confirm everything for surgery and said I had quite the balance. Still convinced the bill had been taken care of, I contacted billing, who sent me to financial services. This woman is tough, not very friendly (not rude either). I have learned and confirmed the debt was in fact not covered, and now owe a balance in excess of 11k. I was denied assistance because they said I made too much money (then it was 13.00 an hr. Now it's 14.75.). I make more now, not much, but still. I offered to a payment plan of 150.00 per month and she all but said no and basically I got cornered into 256 a month, which I'm still not sure I can pull off. That's over half of a take home check.
She's hinting at not allowing my surgery to go through. Again, it's covered by my insurance, has been approved and they've acknowledged so. However, I feel she's dancing me around the flag pole with "I have to present this to my supervisor, and he's taken it to the director". Oddly enough, she was much chipper with that message.
The surgeon's office is in a thither about it. They said they've never heard of such a thing, it's been approved, etc. They're supposed to call me back in the morning.
Can they just prevent the surgical procedure??
That's my question. Thanks.
Topic: RE: Beaumont Hospital - Royal Oak, Dr. Chengelis
I had my RNY at Beaumont in 2008. Dr Krause was my surgeon. The program is fantastic. I wish I had time to take advantage of everything they offer. I did two years of resew before selecting to have it done through Beaumont and their program was a huge part of the decision.
Best wishes.
Best wishes.
"I refuse to measure success in pounds lost, but rather in life gained!"
Nick
Nick
Topic: RE: Denied for PS today!
At least you gave it a shot and now know it isn't covered and have a plan of action for self pay!
Take care,
Nan
Take care,
Nan
Nan
HW 300 / SW 280 / CW 138 / GW 140
Hit Goal 4/2/2010
Topic: RE: Denied for PS today!
Not surprised at all as it is a cosmetic procedure that 99.5% of insurance companies will not pay for unless the skin is causing pain/irritation.
Topic: RE: Beaumont Hospital - Royal Oak, Dr. Chengelis
Beaumont was wonderful. I had Dr Krause as my surgeon almost 4 years ago. The staff was great. I don't know anything about Dr. Chengelis.
Topic: RE: Hello old (and new) friends:-)
Hi, I remember you from long ago ... I'm nearly seven years out and have regained 30, some from meds, some from depression over failed knee replacement/knee replacement revision (on the same knee), unemployment, new job that didn't work out as well as I had hoped, moving out of state/area/away from family, cat dying ... I've had a really bad year!
I am still fairly healthy, but my blood pressure is creeping up again; again, that could be pain issues, too, and depression, although I am on a good antidepressant which is helping. My main comorbidity was arthritis, and still is; the knee replacement didn't work, so I can't get around like I did before it (even after I lost weight). My back is better, but arthritis doesn't just go away.
I know what you mean about losing the will to get back at it. I have good online support, but I would kill for some in person support. I had a good psychologist in Michigan; but my copay here is $50 a visit and I can't afford it. Anyone have Skype? We could do a conference call. I haven't met anyone here to understand what I'm going through. My coworkers certainly aren't helpful.
I am still fairly healthy, but my blood pressure is creeping up again; again, that could be pain issues, too, and depression, although I am on a good antidepressant which is helping. My main comorbidity was arthritis, and still is; the knee replacement didn't work, so I can't get around like I did before it (even after I lost weight). My back is better, but arthritis doesn't just go away.
I know what you mean about losing the will to get back at it. I have good online support, but I would kill for some in person support. I had a good psychologist in Michigan; but my copay here is $50 a visit and I can't afford it. Anyone have Skype? We could do a conference call. I haven't met anyone here to understand what I'm going through. My coworkers certainly aren't helpful.
Topic: Denied for PS today!
Just got word from my dr. today that I was denied for my TT... So I guess I will be self-pay and will have to wait until next year when I get my taxes back!!!! I was pretty sure my insurance wasn't going to pay for it, but it was worth a shot. They had told me that they have a really hard time getting United Healthcare to cover it. I am not going to go through all the appeals because I doubt it will work. I have lost 140 pounds, but I really don't have a ton of skin hanging, I actually bounced back pretty good, but I still have self confidence issues about what is there. So I will be looking into February or April of next year I guess. But it WILL get done!!!!!
HUGS to ALL,
Shawn - Lap RNY 11/16/06
319/169/185/204 - 5' 7" Starting/Goal/Lowest/Current
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