manykids

I really hope the best for you. You will be so glad you had it. My 17 year old daughter had it day after Christmas and already has lost 23 lbs. Hunger is very controllable now and she has been able to go to school with everyday more energy. Your Physician's office will always deal with the insurance, and any co-payments you will have with the insurance. Good luck. Many kids in California!

I understand your confusion and so many have asked this. They are different. BCBS being in Texas is basically one company. One takes care of hospitalization and the other takes care of everything outside of the hospital. Here in California they are totally different companies. They compete with each other for business. So we handle things differently. Since I am not totally famaliar with the procedures and protocol of the one company together BCBS I do not know what their criteria is for finding an approved center for bariatric surgery. I would either check my policy contract online or if you have a handy copy at home check this. Or you can call the eligbility department and find this out from BCBS. This will take away from alot of wasted time. They have guidelines that are set out in your type of policy and coverage and the choices of where you can have this done. Your Customer Service will help you with this. But again if you have your policy contract or access it online under you ID Member number you can read the criteria yourself. Hope that helps a little. Sorry we do things different here being that BC and BS are 2 different insurance carriers. Many Kids

I work for Blue Cross and my daughter got lap band. Depending upon whether you have a PPO or HMO you can be covered for this surgery. You need to go to your Primary Physician if you have an HMO and get a referral to a Blue Cross COE (Center of Expertise) to have your surgery at. Cedars Sinai is a COE with BlueCross of California. Any B.C. PPO member should be directed to make an appointment at any of these accredited centers. Refer to your policy contract under Bariatric Surgery. You won't have problems with authorizations as long as you go to a COE to have this surgery. Remember also in California we are lucky to be able to appeal with an outside Review BOard should Blue Cross decline an authorization by the Physician. Majority of times if you meet the criteria as listed in your policy contract, the REview Board will demand that Blue Cross pay for this surgery if they declined it. Where you go is pivotal to getting approved authorization for this surgery.

Where do you buy the Isopure? i heard you can only get this online. Let me know. The weeks of protein is pretty monotonous and it would help to have that protein, since it is what they used at Cedars Sinai after band surgery.

My daughter just had the lap band surgery with Dr. Cunnen who shares same office as your Doctor. They are a tremendously professional group. You will be so glad you went there to do this.