Sleeve and Medicare?

[Goddardgo 90]

I am hoping to be sleeved by November of this year and have been explaining the procedure to my mother. She has BCBS Banner Medicare? She doesn't think it would be covered for her, but she is in need of something. She is diabetic, on all sorts of meds and in pain all the time from her weight. I wanted to know if anybody had this using their medicare? I am not sure if the insurance is just an excuse for her, or if she is worried about having something like this at her age. Any suggestions, thoughts or comments are welcome and greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!

[futureloser 190]

I am on Medicare with a Blue Cross PPO in Michigan and it was covered except for my $500 copay

[futureloser 190]

By the way, I am 66

[Goddardgo 90]

^{Thank you so much! At least I can tell her.. "I know that they cover it" I really hope this is something she looks into. She has 14 grand children and needs to be around for as long as she can... this will help her do that.}

[nursepez 152]

I can't speak to Medicare...but I had my sleeve at 60...and no looking back for me. One of the best things I ever did.

My surgeon says he has sleeved patients in their 70s.

Keep encouraging her.

[RevisionReally 3]

When I was working on my insurance approval, I was told that Medicare is "starting" to cover it, meaning that it is now covered in some states, but not all. In time, it should be covered in all states. I was also told that other insurance companies tend to follow Medicare, so as Medicare continues to approve the sleeve, other insurance companies will add it to their covered procedures.

[futureloser 190]

When I was working on my insurance approval' date=' I was told that Medicare is "starting" to cover it, meaning that it is now covered in some states, but not all. In time, it should be covered in all states. I was also told that other insurance companies tend to follow Medicare, so as Medicare continues to approve the sleeve, other insurance companies will add it to their covered procedures.[/quote']

You are right- I forgot that. I am in Michigan and it was covered starting in January.

[CA712 111]

I know of 5 people in my local support group who are on medicare and after a co-pay medicare paid for the rest of it. Good Luck

[ShariM735 189]

I'm 68 and on Medicare. After my co-pay, they cover all of it. I have Humana in Iowa.

Sent from my iPhone using VST

[mokee 588]

I was 66 when I had it done. I am on Medicare and also have BCBS federal. I never paid one cent for anything. Whatever Medicare did not pay my other insurance picked up. Go to a seminar for whatever surgeon you think she may want and they can tell you there if it is covered by whatever insurance she had.

But by the way this sounds does she want this at all? This is a life changing surgery and you really have to be willing ton

[mokee 588]

To change for it to work. Many think you just have the surgery and everything will be hunky dory. Take her to a few seminars so she can make a decision on her own. It must be her decision.