mommy2kai

I recently went to a info seminar with Dr. Stephen Malley in Overland Park, KS. I have United Health Care, and he is considered an in-network doctor, and I'm in luck because my employer's plan pays for 90% of the cost for LapBand from an in-network dr. Whoohoo! But....his office charges $150 for the initial consultation, regardless of whether or not you have insurance. My co-pay should only be $20 for an in-network dr. They will submit the claim to my health care provider, and reimburse me the difference of $130. Also, post op visits are $50, if you have a fill they are $100. So, has anyone else heard of a doctor doing this? If he's part of my health care provider's network, I don't understand why I can't pay my regular co-pay.

Thanks for the replies, everyone! Right now, I'm in a holding pattern, because I found out last week that my employer's policy with United does NOT cover any kind of bariatric surgery AT ALL. This, despite me calling UHC on three different occasions and each time giving them the procedure code as well as my group and subscriber numbers. Each time, they told me that our policy covered it at 90% with an in-network doctor. I was going to the seminar with Dr Hitchcock at KC Bariatric, and thanks to the advice of their front office, I contacted my HR to get a copy of the coverage details of our insurance. It was only when I spoke with HR that I was told that our policy doesn't cover bariatrics. Even if I were to have a BMI over 40, and co-morbidities, they will not cover. So right now, I'm stuck. I really want to do this, but self pay isn't an option. I could more easily deal with paying off 10% as opposed to 100%. I kind of don't know what to do next.

I'm having a the exact same FRUSTRATING experience with my employer and UHC! UHC told me three different times that our plan covered both Lapband and gastric bypass. I was over the moon! Then, at the request of a dr, I contacted my HR department to get a copy of our policy in writing, to verify that it was covered. Imagine my shock when they told me that not only does our policy not cover it, they have very carefully written the clause in the policy so that they will never cover it. I guess they would rather have me fat and on a ton of meds or with several co-morbidities than to pay for something that would make me healthy. Right now, self pay is not an option; we can't afford another bill. Looks like it's back to Weight Watchers and another stab at that. :cry

Wow, what an amazing thread! Everyone's story is so moving and inspiring! My mom was a single parent, and I think part of my problem began as a child. She let me eat pretty much whatever and whenever I wanted. I was never very active as a kid, I preferred playing with my Barbies or reading a book over riding my bike. But despite my mom letting me have free reign of the fridge, she was hyper critical of me. She started putting me on diets at around age 7 or 8. 'You have such a pretty face', or, 'if you lose weight, I'll buy you a whole new wardrobe', she'd say. Other times, the comments were mean. When we went to pick out my first training bra (oh the horror!!), I found a nice, stretchy one that looked comfortable. Best of all, it was one size fits all. I showed it to my mom who looked at me in disgust and said, 'it says one size fits all- not one size fits all elephants!' I began to slim down some as I went into junior high, and I noticed that the boys were beginning to take notice! I wanted to lose more weight, so in my freshman year, I began taking speed. I dropped another 35 lbs quickly (amazingly, mom didn't notice!), and I somehow managed to keep an A average despite being in a daze and sniffling like a coke fiend all day. This was back in the '80s, and I was doing the '20-minute workout' everyday, and working out with Richard Simmons on his tv-show every morning as well. After high school, I began working, and was living on fast food, and beer and a ton of mixed drinks on the weekends. My weight would yo-yo up and down, and I'd try any fad diet that came along, because mom was still harping on me that I was fat. At one point (when I was about 35lbs over my ideal weight), she asked me if I was pregnant. WTH?! Anyway, I met Mr.Mommy2Kai, and we got married. I lost about 25 lbs before our wedding, and then started gaining about 10 lbs for every year we've been married, which has been 11 years. I'm an emotional eater, and Lord knows we've had a lot of stress in our marriage. When I'm upset, I calm myself with food. Food has been my best friend for many years; it's been much better to me than drugs or booze have ever been. And, I don't exercise like I used to. A couple of months ago, I joined Curves and I've gone two times. I'm using the excuse of 'I don't have time! I don't want to get sweaty on my lunch hour/before work/after work!' I'm so busy taking care of Mr.M2K, and my son Kai that I don't ever feel like I have time for me. At any rate, I'm ready to tell food that it can't be my best friend anymore. Oh, it can be a part of the big celebrations in life, but they won't be centered around food. And it will be there to sustain me and keep me healthy, but it's not going to be my therapist anymore. I want to see my son grow and get married and have his family, and maybe even stick around to see their family! I want to grow old with Mr.M2K, because he'd miss my nagging! I go to my seminar on May 20, next Saturday. I'm hopeful that after that, I can get in to Dr. Malley soon, and begin my first steps on my journey to reclaim myself.

Well, after reading a lot of good things about Dr. Malley here, I'm going to one of his seminars on May 20. I still have a ton of questions, so I'm hoping that between the seminar and an office visit, I can get them all answered. My husband is being very suuportive of me, and that helps a lot. He told me that he would love me no matter what, but that the knows how important my health is. So, if all goes well, maybe I can be banded by the end of the summer! :clap2:

Hey y'all, I live in Overland Park, and I am seriously considering getting lap band surgery. I have contacted my insurance company, United, and my employer's program pays for 90% in network, 50% out of network. Obviously, I have to do some more research to find out what local drs are in-network, but I was wondering if anyone knew anything about The Institute of Advanced Bariatric Surgery and their hospital in Lenexa, KS? Also, does the price a drs office quote you include the fills? If not, what is the cost of a fill? Sorry for so many questions, but I'd just like to have as much info as possible. I plan on attending a couple of seminars before I make my final decision, but I'm concerned that the seminars will come off like 'hard sells'. Thank you in advance for your help!

Hey all, I'm new here. I have been dealing with my weight for what seems like most of my life, and I am desperate to do something to keep the weight off for good. I have been researching the lap-band procedure, and I'm pretty sure it's the way I want to go. I am trying to find a good doctor in my area; I live in Overland Park, Kansas, so if anyone could recommend a doctor in the Kansas City area, I'd love to hear about it. I have to say, that reading some of the posts here, and seeing some of the before and after pics, is very inspiring!