Not one hospital around 180miles

Update on my situation!  There isn't a hospital/doctor within 180 miles that does WLS that takes my insurance.  It's either the doctor will take it but the actual hospital that he needs to use to do the surgery wont take it, or if a hospital takes it all of the doctors that work at their facilities around them wont take it.  I have personally called 73 doctor offices and at least 10 hospitals within 180 mile radius of where I live.  I live in Old Hickory TN and the closest man that might be able to do it is in Knoxville which is 185 miles from where I live and a 3 hour drive there and a 3 hour drive back so round trip would be 6 hours (for someone that doesn't drive trying to find someone to take me is going to be a witch) but he's only done TWO RNY's and they were OPEN SO I'm not all that sure I want to go to this guy.  So I called AmeriChoice back and told them that I went threw their whole list of 70 doctors (general doctors they don't even have a doctor that does WLS) and not one of them does that type of surgery and that was when I was told that I could try to find someone that would take  out-of-network so I started all over and went threw the list of doctors/hospitals again and I found out that Vanderbilt will accept out-of-network and that a Dr. Richards will accept out-of-network NOW here is where it gets insteresting and hopefully some of you might know.  I will be calling back the insurance and Vanderbilt on Monday 8a.m. just to find out IF I go the out-of-network route will I PERSONALLY have to pay for anything???  I am legally blind and I am on SSI because I have had only like 5 jobs and at each job they were minimum wage and the one at David Lipscomb University when I was going there was less than minimum wage (don't know how they got away with it but they did) anyway I didn't have enough paid in taxes so when I filed disability for my eyes they said I could only get the SSI instead of the other one.  Anyway there is no way I can pay out of pocket for this surgery so I'm hoping that I wont have to because if so then I can't afford it with my rent and student loans each month I barely have any $$ left over for anything else I don't even own my own phone I have to use the land ladys phone for local calls.  I'm not giving up I could have already had this done if I hadn't given up last year when Dr. Wright canceled I was so down that I just gave up trying but I refuse to do that this time!!! 

Angie, I have a offer for you.  I live in Knoxville  real close to maryville where my doc Dr. Coquitt did mine at blount memorial, Now I have UHC and medicare for I also am disabled. If you are interested in finding out if he will take you I am willing to help you and you can stay here while you have your surgery and when ready to go back we will take you back home or what ever we can work something out.  I know how bad you want this surgery, I hate to have you miss out on something that in the long run is going to make you healthy.  You think about it and let me know ok your wls buddy Annrenee

Angie: Don't give up.  It sounds like you have a friend in Knoxville and didn't even know it!  You are in my prayers and I feel sure that this is going to work out.  I think that sometimes God puts us through some challenges to guide us to the right path.  While we don't always understand what is going on, I firmly believe that there is an ultimate plan. Keep your chin up! Freddie

I do a lot of insurance work with student athletes at my job. We have run into situations where the student's insurance does not have any In Network providers within 50 miles of the university. In these situations, the insurance MUST cover the Out Of Network provider as In Network. I don't know if the same would hold true for WLS but it's worth checking out. I know of a lady at Baptist who's insurance wanted her to travel to Knoxville for her surgery to use a surgeon they considered to be In Network. She fought and won a judgement forcing them to cover Baptist and the surgeon at the In Network rate since this is where she lives. The judge agreed that it was stupid for the insurance company to try and force her to travel that far when there were excellent resources here. If I'm remembering correctly, she had TennCare.

Thank you so much!  I can't tell you how much that means to me.  I hope I can find out something soon and will definately keep everyone updated.  Big HUGS to everyone on the TN message boards with you all I feel so much better!

Angie  do what you have to do and go for it ... they can't get blood out of a turnip... what can they do to you?? garnish your wages?? you dont work so  i think they will have to adjust  the dfference to a  loss against the hosptial on  whatever is left that you are unable to pay . They charge plenty to insurance companines  and this is just a charge back if they cannot collect .. Plese  look into this matter I wish you all the luck on the world and  it seems the lady in Knoxville is reaching out her hand to help you . There are angels  in the strangest of places .

Hi Angie , sounds like you have the willpower to get this done someway and all your friends here will help you as much as possible. You know you can call me anytime, hugs Adrienne