Wallybobsluv

I have been researching the different Gastric Surgeries available & decided on a Lap Band or Realize Band.  At my initial consultation with my Surgeon of choice, he attempted to sway me to the RNY surgery instead of the Lap Band.  At first I was willing to consider it.  However, after my PC Physician begged me not to do anything that would rearrainge my internal organs, etc, and reading up on the surgery some more, as well as reading some of the horror stories.  I decided that my first choice of a Lap Band was better for me.  I am still in pre-op status & I have to use a COE center (Center of Expertise) for my surgery in order for my insurance to cover it.  I have Blue Cross PPO & they have advised me that my only requirements for surgery is a BMI of significance, Psych Evaluation & a Nutritional Evaluation as well as utilize the services of the COE.  So I have located the one I want to use.  It is not in my home town area, as the COE's locally, want $3000-$3500 out of pocket, non negotiable, non refundable, up front cost that is not billable to Insurance & is on top of the Surgical costs.  This doesn't sound kosher to me.  So I looked a bit further out of my area & found the Western Bariatric Institute group in the Reno, NV area.  After calling them directly, I found that they did not charge this additional extreme fee & was in shock when I told them of the other sites charges!
So I immediately signed up to attend their very next Seminar on 8/26/09 & went to my initial consultation with my surgeon of choice, Dr Mark Kozar on 8/28/09.  I only need to fulfill a few more steps in order to request Authorization from Blue Cross.  I need to have a Psych Eval & Nutritional Eval done, & attend a Steps to Success Class & one of their Support Group Mettings.  Then we can send off for (hopefully) surgery approval!  I am 98 pounds overweight but I also have some other problems that puts me in the Morbidly Obese catagory.  My weight loss goal is to lose down to 130 lbs, but my realistic goal is to lose down to between 140-150 lbs.