ok first things first -- do you still have medicaid?? get on the phone and call different doctors -- there is going to be a dr that will accept your insurance -- most medicaid policies are now HMO's with private insurance companies -- Blue Cross Blue ShieldNJ Family Healthcare is MEDICAID but when you call the dr office you tell them you have BCBS and then they will ask you what type of BCBS you have and you tell them NJ Family Healthcare -- you do not need MONTHS of psych -- it's only 1 visit -- you don't have to find a gym -- the dr should be referring you to labs, cardio, pulmonary, psych and everything else -- don't let the dr just take your money -- there are plenty of free support groups to attend -- keep asking around -- keep calling different dr's --ask your primary dr to refer someone -- most insurance now won't ask for the 6 month diet -- more surgery types are being accepted by insurance -- there are resources out there and there are dr's out there who take your insurance as payment in full -- if a dr accepts your insurance then they accept what the 'fee schedule' pays them as 'in full' and they can not bill you -- i'm a biller -- call different hospitals and see if they have a bariatric service and talk to them -- ask for a service coordinator to help you sort thru stuff -- it doesn't have to be stressful and it doens't have to cost alot of money -- good luck

Thanks Tom....I'll be there!

Thank you for the information on the Rose procedure, looks like it really is a waste of time. My next avenue to explore is the VSG, my original Dr. does them but I'm just so unhappy with the follow through at the office. I'm away this week and will really think about what path to follow and where to go from here.

I also told a friend *****cently got banded about our get togethers and I am going to see if she wants to attend.

If you have truly hit bottom and have insurance that will cover it you should use the insurance. I had an Aetna/Blue Cross Blueshield policy and yes you will have to jump thru hoops but those are put there to save the insurance company money and weed out people who are not willing to put in the work to get to have surgery.  In my case they almost won, I did think twice and it took me a few months to decide that they were not going to win ~ I was going to.

Call the insurance company and see what their requirements are and have them send it to you in writing plus take the persons name and operator number when you talk to them plus also write down the date and time you speak to them.

You can do your medically supervised diet at your Primary Dr's office so you really don't need a gym and yes you may have to pay for some things out of pocket like the therapist appt and the nutritionist appt but in the long run it will be worth it.

Just remember the surgery is only a tool and you have to be willing to make some major life changes and be willing to work hard for your own health, it is a journey not a marathon..

Good luck, I hope it works out for you.
Stella