Kimmes

I am with you ringing in the New Year and new lifestyle! I will be sleeved on Jan 6th - just a little ahead of you.

I had to wait for the new year for tax purposes and to use my Flexible Spending Account from work. Oh well.. it took me years to gain this weight I guess its going to hang around just a little longer than I wanted. Those pounds are going to be shed in 2011!

Stay focused and healthy and prepare your body for the change now. Start taking Vitamins, Biotin (hair) and perhaps journal your thoughts and goals for next year!

Best wishes and blessings!

Kim

Kerri,

I am glad to hear that it was not an infection! I am also happy to hear that you are up and about! I am confident that you will feel better every day!

Get your Water and protien in! Shortly you will be able to change your diet and I bet you are looking forward that. Take care and keep posting your experience, changes and thoughts. We are all with you!

Kim

Sending best wishes and prayers your way today! Take care and rest! Let us know when you are done how it went! Congrats!

Kim

I just arrived to the outpatient registration, waiting for the service to open. I'm ready for the surgery!!!!! Will keep everyone posted.

My plan has that exact same run out on it. Have until March 15th to use 2010 dollars and services can be in 2011 and still use 2010 $$.

I work in health insurance -I sell large group medical plans - but rarely work on FSA issues, so this has been a humbling experience for me to have the shoe on the other foot. I am going to keep positive and have a back up plan just in case!

Ask your Dr's office insurance person to provide you with an estimate cost. You pay after surgery and after the insurance company has processed everything for payment. They will send you an Explanation of Benefits that will tell you your exact responsibility -or amount you owe. I have no idea how much they might charge... here in Minnesota is can range from $14,000-$17,000.

Kim

NOrmally they wait until after surgery because the isnurance company will apply discounts etc to the amount the doctor bills. If you want to call me cell I can most likely help you in further detail to understand your coverage. I will send you a message with my number.

Ok I can help you here - I am in insurance.

First you pay your deductible. Then you pay 20% - they pay 80% up to the out of pocket maximum - you did not say what that was. And then they pay 100%.

Are you scheduling this for this year or next? The out of pocket maximum is the most you will pay as long as your doctor is in the Aetna network.

Let me know if you need any more help!

Kim

Good luck to your tomorrow! My thoughts and prayers will be with you! I wish you a speedy recovery! Please keep us updated on your progress, experience and recovery!

Thanks for the information. THe billing for my surgery I found out actually goes through a billing service in the good ole USA. I did call the FSA administer today to discuss (got name and number etc). They said it would not be a problem, weight loss surgery is covered as long as I have letter of medical neccessity and itemized bill to back up the charge.

They did indicate that my "$10 Test" was from a valid medical provider here in the USA and as long as I had the funds in the account I could use the card for up to my account limit ( which will be $5000 come Jan 1st). Keep your fingers crossed for me. I will bring all the correct phone numbers and information with me when I fly there for surgery so if there is any problems I can contact them directly. FUnny the person I talked to at the FSA administrator had been rejected for Bariatric surgery and used their FSA to help self pay a year ago.

Thanks for the information. THe billing for my surgery I found out actually goes through a billing service in the good ole USA. I did call the FSA administer today to discuss (got name and number etc). They said it would not be a problem, weight loss surgery is covered as long as I have letter of medical neccessity and itemized bill to back up the charge.

They did indicate that my "$10 Test" was from a valid medical provider here in the USA and as long as I had the funds in the account I could use the card for up to my account limit ( which will be $5000 come Jan 1st). Keep your fingers crossed for me. I will bring all the correct phone numbers and information with me when I fly there for surgery so if there is any problems I can contact them directly. FUnny the person I talked to at the FSA administrator had been rejected for Bariatric surgery and used their FSA to help self pay a year ago.

YOur post made me smile because I can feel your genuine love for others! Our prayers will be with you on Monday and each day along your journey! I wish you the very safest surgery and fast healthy recovery! HUG... Hug... hug!

Please update us after your surgery to let us know how it goes! I am confident the good Lord will take care of you! Enjoy your journey and have faith! I am not scheduled to join you on the losers bench until January 6th -so I will need your prayers and hugs then - but you have mine now!

Kim

Sending my best wishes and prayers your way!

Keep us posted on your recovery!

Kim

Thanks for the rely Sarah! I did you have your surgery in Mexico? That is what I am most concerned about... I know in the good old USA it should be eligible if the Dr certifies that it is medically necessary (even if insurance does not cover it or approve it). I was more concerned about Mexico. Dr Ramos-Kelly is the surgeon I have chose and he will write me the letter according to Sandy his coordinator. I also need an itemized bill (In US $$$) to substandciate the charge on the FSA Visa card.

I am most likely worried and anxious for nothing... since my test today with the card worked. But I just was looking for someone with experience in Mexico to confirm this for me.....

I am glad the surgery flex account and all was possible for you! How far out from surgery are you?

Thanks for listening - er um reading..

Kim

Kim,

The FSA was one of the ways that I was able to get my surgery. I paid the surgeon and then used the balance to pay the hospital. So it was two separate transactions. I wasn't able to fund the whole surgery that way, so I had other funds, however, if I hadn't been able to use my FSA, it would not have worked out for me to have the surgery. And yes it was that easy! Good luck and let us know how it goes! Sarah

Just starting to do some research on VSG. I will be self pay and would like to fund part of my surgery with my Flex Spending Account. - THat is where they take money on a pretax basis and withhold it from your pay check to be used to fund medical out of pocket expenses. My account comes with a Visa debit card. Has anyone used their FSA to fund their surgery?

What information did you need to provide? Did you have the surgeons office swipe your FSA card or did you pay at time of surgery and then claim the expense later?

I am leaning twards using Dr Ramos-Kelly and today I had one of his coordinators Sandy, run my card as a "test" with a $10 charge - it went right through. Can it really be that easy? If so I will fund that account to the max after the first of the year and proceed with surgery on Jan 6th or so. I get the sleeve and save on taxes! That would be ideal to me.

Please let me know if anyone here has any experience on this. Any information is greatly appreciated!!!

Kim

Happy belated birthday - You look wonderful! Congrats on your loss to date! And I have to say that is such a cute dress - you are glowing!

Not getting sleeve until after the new year - first week of January - but cannot wait to have a similar moment some day in the future! Congrats!

It is so fun reading all the posts by successful sleevers - cannot wait to join you on the loser side!

Kim

I am sorry you are not feeling well, I hope this will pass quickly for you. When you are feeling better please let me know about your experience. I am considering the same doctor.

Take care of yourself, get rest and let your new tiny tummy heal!

Kim

That is wonderful and inspiring for us waiting for our surgery date to arrive! Thank you for the update.

I cannot wait to be sitting on the "loser" side with you. Keep up the good work!

Kim

Congrats on your surgery date! I wish you the very best of luck on your journey to health and happiness! Stay strong and focused - I am currently in the process of scheduling myself for January.

Best wishes on your journey!

It seems to have taken me so long to get where I'm at in this process of self-discovery and improvement. From my first date meeting my doctor in May 2010, then on to the nutritionist, exercise physiologist, weigh-ins and my insurance approval in October 2010, this experience has been eye-opening. It took me months to go to my first appointment in May, finally admitting I need help. By posting this, I feel like I've exposed my achilles' heel to the world - my greatest weakness and failure of trying to do something on my own...lose weight, when my siblings don't have this problem. Why me? Perhaps it's a question which will never be answered. All I can say is "it's time for me to take care of myself"! Since I have a confirmed surgery date (11/30/10), I'm beginning to look forward to my new future.

Any news??? I am keeping my fingers crossed the WLS angels are watching over you! Don't give up!

Thanks for the words of support. You guys are great!

Same here - want no connection!

Please let us know how your surgery goes! I am thinking of using Dr jaime Ponce de leon myself and want to hear all the details!!

Here I go...

My first post! I have been lurking for a month or so. Just attended an informational seminar at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. I am hoping to get banded in the new year, I would be delighted if it could happen before, but I think I have a few challenges ahead of me.

Tomorrow I meet with my Primary Care Physician - I am going to ask for a letter of recommendation. My BMI is currently 40.3. Anything below 40 and my insurance UHC/Medica makes it more difficult.

My consultation with the surgeon is November 2nd, then on the 6 I meet with the dietitian. I will continue to review these boards, I have learned SO much from everyone! Thanks for taking the time to post - us newbies really learn from those that have gone before us!

Kim

Curent weight 255

Heigh 5"7"

BMI 40