Ruthie59

You are very welcome. I don't have a sugery scheduled. I am waiting on the Sleeve to be covered by Medicare. I sure hope they do it soon. Best of luck.

I hope everything goes well for you. May God Bless!

You better make sure that covers the surgeons charges, the hospital's operating charges, the anesthesiologist charges, and the radiologist charges.

I'm sorry I didn't make myself plain. I was told there were Medicare Advantage plans Part C that would cover the surgery, like Blue Cross or some of the competing plans. If you changed to one of these it might actually cover the surgery and it is open enrollment. They only cover 80 percent though and that would leave you owing the 20 percent copay as well as the Bariatric charges it doesn't pay ranging from 500-3000 dollars. Right now, I have Medicare and a supplement through my husband's retirement plan which would cover the 20 percent medicare doesn't. If I drop my supplement and change my supplement to a Medicare Advantage plan right now, it would make me cover the 20 percent and I could never go back to his supplement again. So, the only thing I can do is wait for Medicare to change so I won't have to pay the 20 percent. and I won't lose his supplement.

Are you having a problem with excess skin after losing your weight that fast? If so, what have you heard on getting it removed or do you plan to do so?

Yes. I called them twice actually hoping to get a difference answer. Unfortunately, I got the same answer. It is not covered yet. It has a code number but as of yet, they will not cover it. I was told to keep a watch on cms.gov for and changes in the future.

I think it is just government dragging their feet. The Sleeve has been found to be he most used operation right now. You don't need all the supplements like with the Bypass or the other one. So much safer not having to splice twice and increasing the risk for leakage. One good way to get so many off Medicare I guess, LOL. I was told that it was possible to get the Medicare Advantage Part C with some insurances and that it would cover it. Unfortunately, I have a supplement through the company my husband retired through and it will pay what Medicare doesn't and if I drop the supplement right now, I can never get it back. I am determined that the Sleeve is what I want. Both the seminars we went to said all indications are that Medicare will change hopefully in the first part of next year. I so wish I could just do this and get it over. I was told my knee will need to be replaced and that losing the weight would help my back problem too. I guess it is a waiting game cause the bypass scares me.

Just called Medicare. The Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (Code 43775) is not currently covered by Medicare. They did tell me I could go to cms.gov and find additional info. I have not done that yet. Most insurances and state funded insurance is currently covering this but not Medicare yet.