2bthinagn

hkimber...did you use Tallgrass? If so,how was your experience? I am considering them.

Anyone use Tallgrass in Topeka? If so, how was your experience?

Have you figured your BMI. I am not banded yet but from the talk here some insurance companys criteria is that your BMI has to be at least a certain number b4 they will pay for surgery. This is kinda not right but I would be careful to not lose so much that then your insurance wont pay for surgery.

Did you get your answer on Medicare covering lapband. I have been on this road since Nov 2005. My secondary was gonna pay for mine UNTIL Medicare jumped in Feb 16 2006. Now they say medicare has to pay first. OK...Medicare does cover lapband if your BMI is a certain amount. What state are you in? They will only cover this if the procedure is done at a "Center of Excellence" not all hospital have that designation. And IF you are lucky enough to have one close to your home, some of the Dr's wont take Medicare so you are out of pocket for their part. Let me know what you have found out. I am still waiting for for a facility in the Kansas City are to get designation.

Do any of our insurance gurus know what the diagnosis code is when you talk to your insurance company?? thanks

Does anyone know what the diagnosis code is??? thanks

neicyrenee I see you had surgery in Columbia MO, what hospital did you have it done at? i

I went to Dr Malleys seminar this week. I was impressed with his layed back attitude. He was funny and a cutey. I did set up my consult appt. I have to wait for Ctr of Excellence approval for a hospital since I am a Medicare person. I have learned so much from this website. I felt like I could get up there and answer questions! I am also going to Sedalia for Dr Hornbostel's seminar in Feb. If I choose Sedalia for all this, there probably will be very little out of pocket for me.But it may be a year before I can have the surgery due to his wait list of patients. If I go with Dr Malley, it will be maybe Feb for a surgery date and will cost me $5300. So after I go to Sedalia I will have a decision to make.

At a seminar just Tuesday 1-9-07 the insurance guru said BC?BS is starting to cover lapband here. That is the Kansas/Missouri area. A lot more important is the contract the employer has FOR the insurance. But from my understanding...as long as the contract DOESNT have an exclusion for weightloss surgery you can always appeal a denial. DONT GIVE UP!

Thanks lapdancer!! I bookmarked the link you gave me.

To find a Medicare Ctr of Excellence see www.cms.hhs.com

How do you take your medicines after surgery? There are several I MUST take, some you cant crush or split, how do you take them without them getting stuck? I havent had surgery yet so I have some questions and I havent seen this addressed. Thanks

Hi...just talked to Sedalia. The nurse I talked to said that if I am just now going for a seminar it could be a year before I am scheduled for surgery. But you never know what could happen between now and then! We are still gonna go down for the seminar, and I am going to go to Malley's seminar tonite. I might as well get my name in the running everywhere at least be that far along. This is all so discouraging. Keep me posted and let me know what you think after Sedalia. Take care

This is the best place for you to come to. I am not banded yet but I have been lurking at this website for quite sometime. These people are great. There is a guys website I have found that has some recipes on it: http://www.92inches.com/ at the bottom of the page after all the pictures are 2 recipes he has used. Also click on the food forum here on lapbandtalk. There are alot of recipes there. I'm jealous you have a surgery date. I hope I can get one before spring. Good Luck

I am going to Sedalia for the next available seminar. I called Dr Malley's office today and I now understand what you said about the $5000. She said $5300 then Medicare would pay for the hospital bill. She said I would have to sign a paper saying I wouldnt even try to get Medicare to REIMBURSE ME for the $5300. I dont understand that at all. Am going to the seminar anyway. I brought up Sedalia and she said that they (Sedalia) had told her that they were booking surgeries for 2yrs from now! Let me know what they tell you. I think I am going to call Sedalia and see if they confirm that. If thats the case I dont know if I want to waste my time even going down for a seminar. I cant handle waiting THAT long. I just cant believe all this.

If the two of you made the decision together to spend the money I would remind him of that. And also tell him if he had issues with it now isnt the time to tell you. He should have voiced those before you all spent the money. I agree sounds to me like he is seeing you lookin good and it is making him insecure.

What kind of weather can you be having in Austin, Texas to shut you in?? Try BELOW ZERO last night with ice on the parking lots that wont melt cuz it wont get warm enough during the day! Trade places with ya! lol

I'm sorry Wheetsin that is too funny! But...I thought it would be Johnson and the twins! LOL

i took the BIG test at Shawnee Msn. Dr Sabapathy gave it to me. I had to see him for 2 months of appts (I must be a real head case). By the time we got that out of the way, they could no longer take my insurance. So now I am at the mercy of Medicare. That test is wierd.....questions that dont make sense,then you go along and they ask the same question 2 pages later! tryin to slip you up! have fun Tracy.

Maybe from a different country?

I went to the site and figured mine...its official I am obese, BMI 49.9. I guess I qualify to come here!

Thats great to know someone close by is using him. I have been waiting since Feb of last year for somewhere in the KC Metro area to become a Ctr of Excellence. Ive decided I cant wait any longer. My husband and I will go down for the Feb seminar, I called Sedalia and the receptionist said the are scheduling consults for MAY!! I cant imagine when the surgery will be for. I will go anyway and am hoping in the mean time somewhere local will get approved for Medicare. I have noticed on here I dont seem to get alot of responses to comments when I mention say Medicare, maybe I am just being paranoid. I have added you to my buddy list here (I dont know for sure what that does). Goodluck when you go. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. Let me know how it goes after youve seen him. Sharon

Cool...something more to look forward to!!!!

ReneBean.....the Dr said you were TOO big for lapband? I wonder what he considered too big, where did you have the surgery? I have never heard that. That scares me, I wonder if a Dr could say that to me. I want the lapband becuz it is the least invasive of all the options. I have been looking into this for over a year. I have Medicare and that stopped everything when they decided to cover lapband last year. I got discouraged and gave up. I have now found a Dr and hospital that will take the Medicare but looks like it will be at least a 6month wait. And it is a 2 hour drive from my home!

I havent had lapband surgery, but have had other surgeries. I seem to get the gas settling in my shoulders. Thats probably what you have. Not sure how to get rid of it. I just always have to be patient and let mine go away. Congrats on your surgery, I hope to get banded this year!