nikki_w

Jus wondering is there any1 in WA starting their journey to being lapbanded? My 1st appt is in a few weeks and Im really excited :thumbup: Its been hard getting support from my Mum and my hubby sabotages my weight loss efforts *unknowingly* all the time... :smile2: but hope to find a few ppl on here to chat to and compare notes with.

Hi k_mc... Check out a post I did called "how fees r paid" in this forum... i detailed HBF and DR benifits. Let me no if it helps x

Hey im Nikki from WA my surgeon is Dr Kevin Dolan but my surgery is in Jan 2011. HBF Waiting period Whose urs?

Hi girls! Thanks for replying, its nice to have ppl to chat with about this... Karinda that would be cool to email each other. Mine is n.warwick@bigpond.com I bet ur excited th 29th is almost here! Are u going 2 do b4 and after pics? Hey "Fresh" my 1st appt went so well... Dr Dolan was absoutely lovely. Very thorough. I still got till Jan b4 my wait is up for HBF so Im hangin out 4 that now. How is ur recovery goin now? Can u feel th effect of the band now? Did u have fill in as soon as u had the band put in? Look forward to chattin xo

Oh wow 2 weeks and u still not feeling better? Is it that ur not recovering well after the surgery or jus that ur really hungry? Coz u prob should double check with Dr Dolan if ur having pain after so long?? I dont know what u could do about the hunger... maybe try eating many small meals thru the day so ur not starving all the time?? Make a soup and snack on that or maybe some benefiber might help to fill u up longer... can u eat that kind of food?

Im new here 2 :smile2: Im a while b4 I get banded and Im sort of not tellin any1 so a bit on my own with it... family dont understand :thumbup: Glad 4 this site!

This is really weird but Im gonna post the answer to my own question! My Fund: HBF - My Dr: Kevin Dolan - My Hospital: Joondalup Health Campus Consultations ($160) are not covered by HBF but you may be able to claim back some with Medicare. Also Dr Kevin Dolan requires $1000 paid 10 days prior to surgery that is not eligible for any type of rebate. All other fees are outlined below: When you have a hospital stay, you could receive a few different types of accounts. These are: • Hospital • Medical Hospital accounts The hospital will invoice HBF directly and we’ll pay the benefit straight to the hospital. We’ll then send you confirmation in writing of what benefit was paid relating to your hospital stay. If the HBF benefit covers the entire hospital account you will not receive any further accounts. If there is a gap between the hospital account and HBF benefit, the hospital will send you an account for the balance owing. In paying this account, you will need to forward your payment together with the account for the outstanding amount to the hospital. Medical accounts (eg. surgeons, anaesthetist, pathology, radiology etc.) Depending on your medical practitioner, your medical accounts will be handled differently. For example, some HBF Fully Covered and Known Gap Covered medical practitioners utilise HBF Express Pay – where members DO NOT receive a medical account at all, as your accounts are handled directly between your medical practitioners and HBF. Prior to your hospital stay, we suggest that you contact HBF, and discuss the billing arrangements your medical practitioner has with HBF. This way, you can be informed in advance of how your medical and hospital accounts will be handled. Talk to an HBF Member Service Advisor by calling 133 423 or visiting an HBF Service Centre. Paying medical accounts in advance Some medical practitioners actually provide a discount to patients who choose to fully pay for medical services up front prior to surgery, and then make their Medicare/HBF benefit claims later. For details of this option, you need to speak directly to your medical practitioner. Nik

Hi im wondering if anyone can clarify a question about how the fees are paid? I know that with private insurance it can be around $3000. Is that a figure that is to be paid in a lump sum prior to the surgery or is it a total after numerous appts etc that over time add up to $3000? Its prob a silly question but I need to know if I have to swipe my card and pay $3000 in one go so I can have it there. Thanks =)