Looking for Minnesota Nice People

[dizzylee 4]

I'm in the process of waiting for insurance approval and wondering what has happened with other people

[Gracie 1]

I'm in the process of waiting for insurance approval and wondering what has happened with other people

Me too. I'm looking for anyone who might have blue cross of minnesota??? I have this insurance and wondering if anyone actually got the sleeve covered under this insurance. It say "Investgational" which I'm thinking....but don't want to that it won't be covered....but the bypass is...go figure. Anyway, just wondering if you have this insurance and what's going on or it you know anyone who has. Thanks so much...Janine

[Mrs.LauraH 1]

Hi! I am from Minnesota and I met with my surgeon today! He told me that the insurance approval prosess takes an average of 2 weeks in his experience. I am going to Fairview Southdale Weight Loss Clinic and I have heard they are extremely picky about who they approve for surgery. So, I think they may have already weeded out the people who may possibly be rejected. That is probably why it doesnt take so long. I can't wait. I have slready lost my required weight for surgery, went through all the testing and psychological eval. Just waiting to sit on the losers bench

I'm in the process of waiting for insurance approval and wondering what has happened with other people

[Jslimming 1]

I live in the Northern suburbs of the Twin Cities. I had my VSG on 6-23-11. Used Baker Bariatrics out of Unity Hospital. I have Healthpartners insurance, which I have heard is one of the tougher ones to grant approval. Requires you to be over 40 BMI (I was at 40.2) plus have a chronic medical condition like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, etc. (I had high blood pressure). Insurance required 4 visits with psychologist, 5 phone consults with a dietician, a couple dietician visits in person, and a couple nurse visits. Took me about 3 months to go thru all that, but actual pre-approval process only took about a week.

The hardest part is waiting thru all those appointments; once you make up your mind to do it, you want it right now!

[got2bthin 16]

I am from WBL and I am thinking about st paul surgeons I have been told they don't do many sleeves but they will do it. I have Ucare and all is going well I hope to be approved soon

[dizzylee 4]

I had the Vertical Sleeve 4/2011 by the St Paul Surgeon's group. Dr. Kelly did it and everything has gone well. They don't perform them frequently but somewhere in my research they have done quite a few. This specific option hasn't been that much in vogue until recently again. I was originally approved for a RNY but with my work up for past esophageal strictures they found stomach polyps and felt that wouldn't be wise. They need resubmitted everything and I was approved. I have BCBS.

[beautifuldiva 22]

Hi everyone. I have bcbs and was approved within a week. I had my surgery done over at the u of m fairview and it was great! My surgeon dr. Buchwald is awesome and is literally world renowned for his work with bariatric surgeries. He has done many sleeves and has a good success rate.

[got2bthin 16]

I had the Vertical Sleeve 4/2011 by the St Paul Surgeon's group. Dr. Kelly did it and everything has gone well. They don't perform them frequently but somewhere in my research they have done quite a few. This specific option hasn't been that much in vogue until recently again. I was originally approved for a RNY but with my work up for past esophageal strictures they found stomach polyps and felt that wouldn't be wise. They need resubmitted everything and I was approved. I have BCBS.

Nice that's who I am thinking about. I wanted dr Rupp but was told that dr Kelly is better for sleeves. I am glad to hear that someone actually did go through it with him. How long did it take u to lose ur weight?

Did u get approved for the Tummy Tuck by him?

I am 5,4 and 260 pounds 28yrs old.

[got2bthin 16]

Hi everyone. I have bcbs and was approved within a week. I had my surgery done over at the u of m fairview and it was great! My surgeon dr. Buchwald is awesome and is literally world renowned for his work with bariatric surgeries. He has done many sleeves and has a good success rate.

Nice how long did it take u to lose the weight? What has ur experience been?

[dizzylee 4]

I'm 62 and 5' 4" and went from high weight 292 prior to any pre-surgery weight lose (was on 1 month of their pre-surgery diet, day of surgery 268). Surgery 4/18/11 and as of yesterday 6/16 was 199. Must admit this last 6 weeks or so haven't been the best with all the graduation things going on. It is still just a tool and have to behave. Haven't yet approached the subject of a Tummy Tuck yet and I'd like to get to 175 before investigating that. Finances being what they are perhaps will live with wearing a Spanx for awhile when I need to look nice.

[got2bthin 16]

He said in his seminars that he can get ins to pay for the Tummy Tuck.

Wow great success!!! That's amazing I know you feel soooooo much better.

Do you still feel hungry? And lastly did you have any complications? Ok one last lastly how was Kelly's bedside manner and how fast did Nikki get you approved?

Thanks

[dizzylee 4]

I DO feel much better. My pre-diabetes has abated and numbers are normal and my blood pressure is normal so off all my prescriptions except for the thyroid and an over the counter drug for heart burn which I still occasionally suffer from. I'm also on all the Vitamins and supplements as RNY people too. Once the decision was made to be switched from the RNY to the sleeve it was only a week later for the insurance to approve the sleeve. Perhaps since I'd been pre-approved for the RNY that might have helped. The RNY approval came in about 3 weeks after first sent. I'm still never hungry, which amazes me. I've had issues with bronchitis throughout my life so ended up with pneumonia so was in the hospital for a total of 5 days, if it hadn't been for that there really hasn't been any issues outside of the normal, if I eat too much it hurts and early on I'd sometimes get nauseated. Dr. Kelly is somewhat reserved I thought, but as an Operating Room Nurse myself there are many aspects to surgeons, I thought he was fine. The only draw back I had was their nutritionist didn't give concrete info about post op expectations for consumption I thought they were kind of vague. I'm a numbers, plan type person though. I don't remember about him saying about paying for the Tummy Tuck BUT that would be wonderful. I'll have to keep that in mind.

[got2bthin 16]

Well not him paying for the Tummy Tuck, but that he can usually get our insurance to pay for it.

[RMS 64]

I was sleeved on 4/10/2012 at Methodist hospital. Dr Svendson was my surgeon. The surgery went great. I'm down 50 pounds and loving it.

[got2bthin 16]

I was sleeved on 4/10/2012 at Methodist hospital. Dr Svendson was my surgeon. The surgery went great. I'm down 50 pounds and loving it.

Amazing