Anyone been approved by Medicaid?

I just started what I know will be a long process and really am scared to apply because I have medicaid.I have my initial appt to moses cone to listen to info on the surgery but am dreading applying to ins. co.I have a BMI of 44.1 but no major health problems.I do have a family history of them though as well as i have had several surgeries gall bladder ovarian cysts as well as Huge cysts removed surgically every year and little ones monthly. Anyway,my ? is Has anyone dealt w/Medicaid?if so how long &hard is it to be apprved by them?and do you have to have proof of weight loss attempts because i have none?

Hey Regina, I was approved through medicaid it took 6 weeks for approval but I also had a recamendation from my Diabetic Dr. but I was also told that Chapel Hill Hospitasl is the only Hospital in NC that takes medicaid for wls.My Dr's is Tim Farrell. good luck on your juorney and let me know if there is anything else you need to find out. I will if I can

I was alittle shocked at the $70.00 price tag myself Nan! I figure I'm worth it after all these years! LOL! AMY

If your packet is complete when it is sent in to Medicaid it will be reviewed and a decision made with in 5 working days. Medicaid approves many of these surgeries and there are other hospitals and Dr's who accept medicaid recipients for this surgery. I know and visited one person who had surgery at Rex Hospital and my surgeon did her surgery. I know Dr. Enochs accepts medicaid recipients. The Medicaid Dr. is very supportive of persons who need and want this surgery. Your Dr. should be familiar with the criteria and if he is not he can call and ask for the person who does the surgery program and she will be more than happy to tell him what she needs for the approval packet. I have worked everyday for almost 12 years with these folks and I wish I had a group at Cigna as good to work with as the Medicaid Surgery Prior Approval Staff.

BLINK BLINK BLINK!!! What sticker shock!!! Yes, you deserve the nicest, most expensive swimsuit on the planet. If you average it out over the years you did NOT buy a swimsuit, it is probably ... what? Only $7 a year!! =D

I forgot to add that if your packet is not complete..it will be mailed back to your Dr. for additional information...and depending on how long it takes your Dr. to respond could take longer...but when the COMPLETE packet is received and again I repeat COMPLETE packet it will be reviewed by the Medicaid Dr. and a decision is made within 5 working days...the decision will be mailed to your Dr. and then he will notify you...so just know that you have one of the best tried and true approval processes anywhere also one of the quickest....If it took 6 weeks for approval, there must have been additional information needed to complete the packet submitted for approval.

I have Medicaid and it only took 10 days to get my approval. Did not have to show proof about any weight loss attempts. Overall process for me was 3 months. Good luck. Andi

Regina, Medicaid is not that hard at all to get approved. Like Barbara says once they get your complete information, they will make a decision in a couple of days. They don't drag their feet at all. My packet was received on the last week of Feb. and I got approval on March the 1st. Took about 3 days. If your doctor says you need it then u should have no problem. Greenville also takes medicaid. A lot of places do.

My BF has medicaid and she had her surgery on 03/22/04. It took her a few months to go thru the whole process but that is because she took it slow. They should pay w/ a bmi of 44. She had no real health probs neither. Good Luck!

Hey Rene, sorry to hear that you are feeling depressed. I can remember at about that same time feeling the same way because I couldn't exercise yet, I wasn't back to work yet, I felt that I needed something or was lacking something in my life. I got a job, that made me feel a little better. I started taking some classes, felt a little better. I started losing weight and being able to exercise and ride my bike again, I felt even better! I got a better job working at Curves and helping other people work out and feeling better about themselves, I was losing even more weight now, I was selling stuff in the market downtown, I was getting my substitute teaching license. Before you knew it, I forgot that I ever was depressed and I totally forgot about food and started focusing on LIFE!!!! I guess what I am trying to get at is............. take baby steps twards little goals that you want that doesn't involve eating food. When we are always beating ourselves up for failing at not being who we want to be how can we NOT battle with depression? I failed time and time again on every diet imaginable just like most of you too and probably you to Rene, my God, how can we NOT be depressed if we keep failing!!!??? This time your NOT GOING TO FAIL soooooooooo, start thinking of something creative that you've been wanting to do or something you've been putting off for awhile or somewhere you've wanted to go?!!! Make a list of all the things you want to do or have wanted to do. Start with something small and work your way up to #1 when you get to your goal weight. AMY