Hello from ND

[Fluffy 0]

Hello! I just joined. I live in ND and am looking forward to having the lapband surgery sometime mid to end of April. Hopefully my insurance cooperates and it goes that fast. I am very, very excited with my decision and looking forward to a new life of better health.

I have BCBSIL if anyone has experience with them let me know.

Thanks a bunch!

Tarra

[rkj123 0]

Hi Tarra:

I am from SD so welcome neighbor!! Where are you planning to have yours done? I am going to Fargo on Monday for the seminar at Merit Care and plan to have Dr. Monson. As far as I can tell with my insurance, they will cover it (I have BCBS-MN). Hope things work out for you!!

Robin

[missy4gordon 0]

Hi guys!! North Dakotan here! I can't help you with insurance experience because when I had mine done, BCBS didn't cover the procedure so I went to Mexico. Also when I had mine done, Merit Care wasn't even doing the procedure. I have gone to Bismarck for aftercare, they are super nice there. Do you live closer to Fargo or Bismarck? I ask because I would definately recommend Dr. Schmit if you live closer to Bismarck.

Well, good luck in your new adventure in Banding!!! If you have any questions, please ask!!

[Fluffy 0]

Hi!! So exciting to meet neighbors!!

I am going to Dr. Schmit in Bismarck. I live here in Bismarck and I have had him before. He did a biopsy on my breast in November. He was so kind. My sister had passed away a week prior (cancer) and I was really sad. His bedside manner just touched my heart. So... I am sticking with him. The coordinator for bariatric surgeries there is really great too.

Mexico huh? How much less did it cost there?

Best Wishes,

Tarra

[mary1094 0]

Hello

I am from Mass.And have bcbs they are covering me as long as it is medically necessary and it is for me thye will pay.Sorry about your sister

[Fluffy 0]

Thank you Mary1094. I miss her. But losing her has been a real motivation for me to start LIVING, and get healthy. She is my guardian angel now. :think

[missy4gordon 0]

Hi!! So exciting to meet neighbors!!

I am going to Dr. Schmit in Bismarck. I live here in Bismarck and I have had him before. He did a biopsy on my breast in November. He was so kind. My sister had passed away a week prior (cancer) and I was really sad. His bedside manner just touched my heart. So... I am sticking with him. The coordinator for bariatric surgeries there is really great too.

Mexico huh? How much less did it cost there?

Best Wishes,

Tarra

Hi Tarra,

In Mexico I paid around $8000.00, where Bismarck was, at the time anyway, $12,000.00. Plus, I kind of got a little mini-vacation, I had never been to San Diego before so that was cool.

[disney38 0]

nice to see this thread!

I am on my last resort to getting my insurance to cover surgery. They denied, then denied my appeal, but lots has happened in the past few months...they MAY reconsider.

Either way, I am having surgery - not scheduled yet. If my last resort with insurance doesn't work, I will either go to Bismarck to Dr. Schmitt or to Colorado to Dr. Schmitt, maybe Mexico, but a little unsure of that yet.

I live in Fargo and have seen Dr. Monson. I did just find out today that Meritcare will now do fills for patients that had surgery outside of Meritcare - that was not the case last Fall.

I too want my health back. I have tried and tried to lose weight, but it just doesn't work. I hope the band will be the tool I need.

[Fluffy 0]

Hello Disney! So happy to meet another person from the great north tundra who is going through this. Definitely keep us posted on how you're doing and what happens. I am so excited.... I pray I am not denied. What kind of Ins do you have?

[juliegeraci 7]

Tarra, good luck with your surgery. You will love being banded.

[missy4gordon 0]

I live in Fargo and have seen Dr. Monson. I did just find out today that Meritcare will now do fills for patients that had surgery outside of Meritcare - that was not the case last Fall.

HOLD THE PHONE!!! Are you serious? They will do fills for other patients now? THAT IS AWESOME, I live soooo much closer to Fargo than Bismarck, I am calling them right away! Thank you so much for posting that information, you are a life saver!!!!!

:clap2: :clap2:

[disney38 0]

My insurance is BCBS of ND AND I have two policies with coverage. I was turned down because my BMI was not 40. It is 39.....but, I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 2 weeks before the request was submitted. At the time, the CPAP worked OK, because I was sleeping so horrribly.

They denied because they said I did not have a co-morbid condition and the surgery was not medically necessary. They didn't count the sleep Apnea because it was controlled by CPAP (for 2 weeks). They appealed, and still denied. The second denial happened in August.

After that I was defeated. Shortly thereafter (September), I had some medical problems and had to have a surgery that made me put this on the back burner. I have since recovered and am more determined than ever.

However, between August and now, the CPAP is not doing the job anymore....it only lasted a few weeks, and I am not tolerating it well at all. I remove the mask during my sleep and wake up several times. When I spoke to my insurance, they told me to resubmit....so we will see.

I am determined one way or another to do this. I am a tad nervous about going to Mexico, though I like their price. Bismarck is $13,000, Fargo is $17,000, and the Dr. in Colorado is just under $10,000.

Lots of information, but I am very happy to find some locals on here, and now you understand why I was not approved. If my BMI had been 40, it wouldn't have mattered if I had co-morbidities, insurance would have covered. However, the BMI had to be that for 3 years.

Thanks

[missy4gordon 0]

Yeah, it really pays to have insurance doesn't it. Men can get Viagra no problem.....

I also have BCBS of ND, when I got my surgery they didn't cover anything except Bypass, so when I heard they started covering I called to see if my fills could be covered, yeah right...I got a BIG FAT NO!

I really hope that it works out for you this time around.

[flabuless 18]

Welcome to LBT tara

Best wishes on getting your surgery date...hopefully sooner rather than later. keep us posted...

becky

[DeV 0]

Just reading and I also have BCBSND...I went to the informational meeting at MeritCare on 1/22/07. I then took the physc test on 2/16/07. Then on 3/30/07 went back to Fargo, ND to go over my physc test. Now I am waiting for MeritCare to call me to schedule a consultation appt. with Dr. Monson. I assumed that since the coordinator for MeritCare/Dr. Monson has all my past medical records that they should have an idea if I would be accepted or denied by my ins. Maybe I am wrong to assume this. Maybe a lot depends on which plan a person has through BCBSND..I don't know. I am also wondering if there is something that I should be doing in the meantime while I am waiting to even meet with the dr.?