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Grannyky, I have Quality Health Plan, medicare advantage and I am trying to find a surgeon who will accept it, no luck at all. I have been waiting so long for this, did the 6 month diet and it must be 6 months later still waiting. If I switched to Medicare, will cost more, so I need to stick with this one. Hope they can find me a surgeon.

Teri, Are you telling me Medicare pays your fills? That would be great news as the dr. said they don't. I will wait for your answer. Thanks. Karen

Hi, I was told this surgeon I went to isn't taking medicare anymore because they aren't paying for the fills for people. Is this true? Thanks, Karen

Oh wow! I talked to the coordinator at my medicare advantage plan, Quality Health. They are going to pursue Dr. Cywes for a contract but she couldn't tell me if they cover fills. She said that she wasn't familiar with that side of it . I am really going to be upset if they don't cover fills , only one. I won't be able to get it done as I am disabled also. Karen

Hi Nina, I was told at seminar that Medicare isn't paying the fills, is that right? I would appreciate your input, thanks a bunch. Karen

Hi, I went to seminar last night and they said medicare isn't paying for the fills, have you heard this??? I can't afford fills for sure. I can't believe this . Karen

Kelly,, just got back from seminar. when it was over found out they do not take medicare patients anymore, they said medicare won't pay for the fills and the patients cannot keep up with them. I have an HMO, medicare advantage plan so I have a feeling they won't take me either. What a wasted trip.

Hi, this is Karen. I am waiting to see yet if I will be approved, finished my 6 months, only lost 11 lbs. I have a question. With Dr. Cywes , how much money do you have to pay for the nutritionalist he has, etc. that the insurance won't pay for? I am not in a good financial way and am worried about this. Thanks so much! Karen

Hi, can you tell me , did medicare pay for all fills also? Thanks so much. I am hoping to be approved soon. Karen

Hi Karen, it's Karen again. I am just about done with my 6 months supervised by my primary. Well I am going to Dr.Cywes's seminar. I have the medicare advantage plan and hope he will accept it. I wondered, do you know if fills are covered and if not what does he charge? Since I did my 6 months with primary like my insurance said to, do you think I will have to do it all over again with him??? I hope not, that's crazy. Thanks Karen, hope to hear from you soon.

Hi , I have a medicare advantage plan which they go by medicare guidelines. The surgeon's office told me I must go to seminar and then pay $600 for something , you get a book, nutritionalist,whatever else. I said I cannot afford that, I am on disability. She said save it. How do you save that on a fixed income? I told my insurance co., she said I don't see why you would have to pay that. I cannot so that will be the thing to stop me from getting lapband. I will be very unhappy. Did you ask Medicare about the $500? Thanks. Karen

Hi Karen, thanks for letting me know that I should be okay , just chew and cut food into smaller pieces. Tomorrow is my 2nd testing, the written one. I sure hope I get the band. I have not done well on the 6 month diet. Do you know anything about the cookbook one of the girls were going to put together? Well thanks and best of luck to you! Karen

Oh, thank you so much, glad to hear that! All I could think of was oh boy, I will be in the hospital. I sure hope I get approved. I am originally from northern New Jersey, grew up there. I have been in Florida for 26 years, never get used to this humidity though. Thanks for anwering. Keep up the good work! Karen

Alexis, Wow!! Congratulations, you are doing great! I didn't get my band yet but I was wondering something. I have 4 dogs. One of the 9lb dogs tends to just all of a sudden jump on my stomach. I am afraid once I get banded, it will break the band. I know I will have to keep a pillow in front of me. Has this happened to you with your cats? Karen

Wow, Congratulations!!! You have done great!!! What an inspiration! I am not banded yet, finishing my 6 month, not doing too well. Hope they approve me, oh boy! I have a question. I am 56,female and I am scared of one thing. I know you must chew very well. I am missing bottom teeth on both sides and scared this is going to cause me a problem. Have you ever known anyone with the same problem? It scares me but I am chewing now with the side teeth that are more to the front, guess I must chew extra good huh? Thanks for the inspiration. Karen

Ohhhhh, thank you so much! I don't want more hanging, ha! Some say protein , I have heard milk will keep it from getting loose, not sure how true it is. But thanks so much! Karen

Hi, wow, you have done so great!!! Congratulations! I am 56, not banded yet, still finishing up my 6 months with the dr. watching me. Listen, You look great so I need to know. I have chins and jowls and I asked my daughter what would happen to my face when I lose. She said my face will fall and I almost had a heart attack, maybe I should stay fat but NOT! Yours is nice, did you have chins too? Please help me. Karen

Hi Carol, Congratulations! Sounds like you are doing great! I have a question for you. I still am waiting to finish my 6 month watch before I can get approved. I am 5'3", 260lbs. I have double, maybe triple chins, ha ha! I have jowels too and I asked my daughter I wonder what will happen to my face when I lose the weight. She said it will FALL!!! Is this true?? Usually when people lose weight, their face shrinks. Oh my God, makes me afraid to lose the weight if my face is going to be horrid. Maybe you can tell me how yours has done. Thanks so much and keep up the great work! Karen

Hi, I am so glad to see this dr.'s name mentioned as I found his name , called them and they will be on board with my medicare advantage plan , Quality Health in a week or so. I am tickled but I don't think Flagler Hospital is on Medicare list as approved. Are you on medicare? The dr.'s office told me you only need 4 month diet plan , so now I am waiting for my insurance co. to get back with me on it. I can't believe the surgeon's office charges $600.00 for this class and book, I can't afford that. Hopefully it is not necessary. When do you see him? Karen

I lost 14lbs in 2 weeks on Southbeach Diet and enjoyed all the food, I love that diet.

Hi Lori, Wow, congratulations! You have done great! Now I find out Dr. Webb doesn't take my insurance. Everyone I call says no. I have medicare advantage plan called Quality Health Plan. I am very aggrivated with it all as I called them to find out what the process is for the lap band. The girl would not tell me anything. She said ask your doctor what you have to do. I said people tell me I need to go to a seminar , then find a surgeon. Yet my doctor's office said to go on the 6 month of watching my weight and will see a shrink also. The girl in office on a different day said her husband is doing it too and he has to go to seminar,they will find a surgeon, that I should do that.Noone seems to know the exact process for me. This insurance is a medicare hmo and it is good for me but this upsets me to no end. Do you know anyone on this plan? Thanks and keep up the good work! Karen

Hi, there is some good info if you go on to Obesity Action Coalition and sample letters. Good Luck. Karen

Jason, did you get banded yet? Listen to this. You know I have a medicare advantage plan which follows the paying guidelines of medicare. Well I need to follow a 6 month program. Today, the girl at my doctor's office said I should start by going to a seminar and that the surgeon sets you up with a nutrionist and it costs $500 up front ?????? She said they have to get approval for you and that is what costs. I am so confused and sick of this. Any ideas? Did you have to pay $500? Did you go to the seminar? Thanks Jason Karen

Hi, where did you get the guidelines from? I have a medicare advantage plan but they are supposed to use medicare guidelines and I sure would like to see them. Thanks. Karen