Keisha S

Hi Robert, Just checking in to find out how you are doing. I am going with Dr. Snow for the iband as well and I'm anxious to know how it's working out for you.

Hello Everyone, I am getting Ibanded by Dr. Robert Snow. I was going for the sleeve through True Results in Richardson (Dr. Marsden) but after submitting all of my info to my insurance company, they realized it would not be covered because my BMI wasn't over 50. I was absolutely distraught until they contacted me today and referred me to Dr. Snow. Vicky was great and assured me that their patients see results just as well as those that have had the sleeve. I'm still skeptical but this is the first time I'd even considered it so I'm hoping to read some success stories here!

I took your advice and contacted Dr. Marsden's office directly and they were able to explain the issue much better than true results. The problem is that dr marsden can only perform the sleeve at Baylor in Plano and the cost is $35,000 there. But my insurance has a $15,000 limit for the procedure so I have to have it done at another Blue distinction facility which means going to another Dr. (My choice is Dr. Frank Veninga). All of the paperwork has already been sent over from True Results and I'm still going to have to pay 10% because that's just one of the clauses in my policy but at this point i was extremely happy to hear that! So my total out of pocket costs will be $1775 on the day of surgery and my date will be set when i go in for my appointment with Dr. Veninga on Sept 6th. I'm so glad I found this forum because i was a complete mess the other day and you all helped me keep it together! Thanks everyone and i will keep you all posted even though I'm no longer with the same Dr.

I have been making calls and found out that they just were not in my network even though they said they were in the beginning. At the time I didn't see a reason to doubt it. So after speaking with BCBS, they suggested that I contact a Blue distinctive facility directly so i called Baylor in Carrolton and I was referred to Dr. Francis Veninga. I think all they will have to do is change the name of the Dr. on my paperwork and resubmit. The good thing is BCBS responds very quickly, about 3 working days so I don't think this will set me back. I was offered my copay back from TR also.

I received a call today from True results with some bad news...apparently, because they are out of my network and BCBS requires that the procedure is done at a Blue distinctive center of excellence, costing about $35,000 and my out of pocket costs would be over $20,000...that's twice as much as paying for it in cash at any other facility. This makes no sense to me. I have wasted 6 months of my time meeting the requirements and they called me offering my co-pay back for the time i spent with them. I couldn't even speak, i just cried on the phone. I'm still just speechless! i called BCBS and they are saying that my particular policy does state that there is a $15,000 limit on barbaric surgery. Right now, I just feel sick!

I don't think BCBS will allow the surgery anywhere except a BCBS facility but i do know that the band is like a roll of the dice... It worked for my friend very well but my sister was over 320 lbs and only lost 28 lbs with the band and put 15 of that back on. This was all over a 2 year period. She decided on the sleeve and had the surgery just over 4 months ago and is down to 238 as of today. On top of that, the band had infused with her liver and they didn't even know this until they went in to perform the VGS!! mufasas-mom, i just notice you have you surgery date! I am so excited for you!!

All of this information is very helpful. It's nice reading how you all came to make you final decisions. I just went to my last visit at TR last week and am just waiting for BCBS to approve the surgery. Meanwhile, I have been exploring True Results website and am feeling a little uneasy about the content as it relates to the Gastric sleeve. During my visits, the nurse practioner tried to discourage me from choosing the sleeve at least three times and tried to sell me on lapband. The website is very much in line with that and discourages the sleeve everywhere it is mentioned. I'm just wondering if it's too late to go to another facility since I've been with TR for 6 months already. I don't want a set-back but i want the person doing the surgery to belive in it at least as much as I do. I still have not met Dr. Marsden but I will have a list of questions for him when i do.

My blood work came back and I have H. Pylori. Fortunately, I have time to take all of the antibiotics before my final visit with TR on the 23rd. Still looking for reviews on Dr. Marsden. Seems like most of his lap band clients are very happy with him....

How did your final visit go? I stumbled upon this forum looking for info on Dr. Marsden. I am going through True results in Richardson, TX. My insurance required 6 months of supervised weight loss attempt an Aug. 23 is my final visit with them. I just found out that Dr. Marsden will be my surgeon but the only info I can find on him is lap band.Any info you can offer will be helpful, I will having the VGS sometime in Sept.