Louisiana Insurers

[IMSKINNY 160]

Has anyone in Louisiana had VSG? If so, which insurance company approved you?

[beachlover1129 22]

i am in louisiana and have bc/bs christus. I am waiting on my initial approval now.

[IMSKINNY 160]

I hope it works out for you. Who's your surgeon?

[beachlover1129 22]

i am going with richard shimer. and you? my sister in law used felix spiegal and her ins didn't cover anything.

[IMSKINNY 160]

I've decided on Dr. Chu with Surgical Specialists. I have a good friend who has done well with them. Have you gone for your first visit or have you been through all the preliminaries already?

[beachlover1129 22]

i have saw the psychologist and surgeon. I am waiting on the initial approval from ins then I have to go through a 10 week metobolic syndrom program before I can schedule my surgery. where in la are you?

[IMSKINNY 160]

I'm in Alexandria, but the surgeon is in Lafayette. Where are you? I've been to 2 visits with the NP and the dietician. I have to do a 3 mo medically supervised diet. Two more months to go... I've spoken with the psychologist, had a gallbladder test, and about to do the sleep apnea test. Next month is the EGD. It's a lot of stuff to do! I hope I get approved by my insurer! I'm kinda anxious about the whole thing! But, I'm ready to make a change!

[IMSKINNY 160]

Hey, and it seems like people with BCBS get approved quickly!

[beachlover1129 22]

what ins do you have? Is sleep apnea and egd pre op tests? i just have to do the 10week METs program as far as I know. I am in Lake Charles. I will have the operation done here. I don't have a gallbladder so that test is out I am having mixed feelings about surgery. I am excited but nervous.

[IMSKINNY 160]

I have some odd insurance called CCMSI. I am a public employee and they are the third party administrator for my agency. The provider network is Verity Healthnet. WLS is excluded unless medically necessary, so I guess all of this is to prove I need the surgery. The EGD is a pre op test, but I think the sleep apnea test has been ordered because they think that I have it too. It's a home delivery test. The package came today. I put it on before bed and then send it back for them to read the results. Better than sleeping away from home.... I hope I get approved, then I will really start to worry.

[beachlover1129 22]

from whtat I understand the sleep apnea test is very easy. my mom just did one at home to recalcualte her machine. I know what you mean about being nervous. I am waiting on the sale of a house to have the money to do this surgery. It will cost me about 7000 out of pocket. But more than that I have been "big" all my adult life and so I don't know what to do when I get down to my goal weight. My "partner/wife" has never seen me small so you know kinda worried about that.

[IMSKINNY 160]

Like you, I've been big most of my life. I've lost 40 or more lbs on my own, but it has always come back. I'm hoping this will be a jump start and I can then manage on my own. It'll be okay for both of us.

[beachlover1129 22]

i lost 40lbs once in my life also and then I got pregnant LOL i lost 3 more lbs all together while pregnant but then I gained 100 over the last 18 years LOL. Are you going to any support groups yet? My psychologist suggested I go before and after so I did, this past thursday night. It was very interesting and I will be back.

[IMSKINNY 160]

I probably should go to a support group. I've been feeling rather emotional about the decision to start this journey. I guess I want to make sure I'm approved before I do that. I've been talking to a friend a lot who is also considering WLS and to a friend who had it a year ago. He's lost 200 lbs!! He was over 400 when he started.

What did they talk about in the group?

[beachlover1129 22]

the support group in my opinion was awesome. I have a great support system in my "partner/wife" but she has never had wls so i needed someone who has gone through it to ask questions and get affirmation. I understand the emotional part. It's a lot of money for me out of pocket, about 7g and I don't spend money on myself normally. to be honest i don't do hardly anything for myself that is one reason this is a difficult decision for me. But I know I will not be the only one to benefit from this. Good lord 200lbs that is awesome. there was 2 people in the support group I went to who had the sleeve, a man who had it 10 mnths ago and was down 182lbs, and a woman, older than me who had it a year ago and was down 82lbs. so i have HIGH hopes for this to work for us!!!!!!