Wareham, mass

[jenn2752781 13]

Just curious if anyone on here has had surgery at Tobey hospital ...if so I am signing up for the classes and have to pay the 300 dollars..but what happens if I am denied did I waste my money? So worried, that's a lot of money I am a mom with two girls

Edited August 22, 2014 by jenn2752781

[ke-sa 10]

I had my surgery at Emerson in Concord on 7/7. TYou can ask your ins before you invest the money, they confirmed my insurance eligibility before I paid the 250.00 fee. In addition I had several long conversations with my insurance company before I signed up and I had the program coordinator confirm my financial contribution. All of this prior to my program fee.

[jenn2752781 13]

But they will not know any information until my doctors gather the info and send it to them

[gabrielle2014 38]

Hey Jenn - I'm going in on Sept 17th to meet with Dr. Kruger in Wareham. I've gone to the free workshop. His appt secretary told me yesterday that the weight they take at your first appt. is the weight they need to seek qualification. I've met a few people who have had surgery with Dr. Kruger at Tobey and they said that the office really helps you deal with the insurance process. Can you speak to them in the office about insurance and getting it covered before you have to sign up and pay the fee? Helpful to know that that is coming for me when I see him on the 17^th. I’m in the process of trying to gain some weight to qualify. Ugh!

Neat to ‘meet’ someone else that will be going through Tobey. Maybe we’ll meet at one of the classes.

BTW the people I met that had hiim (3 so far) say he's great and the office and hospital is really good.

[jenn2752781 13]

Where are u from

[charmed096213 10]

I had my lap to rny done there. They are the best. I had Dr. Kreuger, he is really great. I had my lap band done at Lahey Clinic and I wish I would have gone to Dr Kreuger to start off with. The whole staff from start to finish is great to work with. And they go out if their way to help.

[terry1118 1,274]

I had my lap to rny done there. They are the best. I had Dr. Kreuger, he is really great. I had my lap band done at Lahey Clinic and I wish I would have gone to Dr Kreuger to start off with. The whole staff from start to finish is great to work with. And they go out if their way to help.

I had Dr Colacchio. Love, love, love him! I also saw doctor Kreuger once for an emergency... I liked him too. My whole experience with Wareham Surgical Associates and Tobey Hospital was awesome. :-)

[jenn2752781 13]

But my question is by the time I make it to do the classes and pay the 300 do they know pretty much if ins would approve or not I mean they do this for a living

[gabrielle2014 38]

I live in Falmouth on the Cape.

I've heard from a few people that have gone to him that they totally know how to help you get approval from insurance. I was told that if you have a certain BMI - over 40 - Or you're over 35 BMI with the comorbidities that they feel they can get approval from insurance.

When do you have to do the classes? You already had your first appt with him?

[jenn2752781 13]

Yes I had my first appt with him in July and I start my classes in sept but that's only cause I have had appts with two in one day and my last psych appt is thos wk coming up so she don't want to make me wait till October for the classes since I will be done with her a few days before...I still have my pulmonary appt and the nurse appt both on oct 3then I am set

[terry1118 1,274]

But my question is by the time I make it to do the classes and pay the 300 do they know pretty much if ins would approve or not I mean they do this for a living

I know they wouldn't schedule the nurse education class until I got ins approval, as this is specifically related to the surgery itself (preop, surgery/Hosp, and post op). I don't remember if the workshops were afterwards, but I think they were. My ins approval only took 4-5 days. Wareham is very good at making sure all requirements are met before submitting to insurance.

[jenn2752781 13]

Is that the two hr class with the nurse??? I am goin to the class that meets once a wk for three wks, or is it the same thing

[terry1118 1,274]

Is that the two hr class with the nurse??? I am goin to the class that meets once a wk for three wks, or is it the same thing

The classes that meet once a week for three weeks are the workshops. The nurse education class is the last thing you need. It's all about everything you need to know about the medical aspect of your surgery, before, during, and after. It covers pre op prep, your hospital stay, after care, what to expect, what can go wrong, how to avoid problems, ANYTHING you want to know you can find out at the nurse education class. You usually get to bring a loved one or caregiver to this class (they can ask questions, too). It was very informative and helped my hubby get over his heebie-jeebies. He came out of it feeling better about my surgery because he had a better understanding of it and knew what to expect.

[jenn2752781 13]

Terry where are u from? (Sorry if I already asked) idk guess I am looking for a reassuring answer, scared that I am wasting my money and I will get denied, that's just a lot of money for me.

[terry1118 1,274]

Terry where are u from? (Sorry if I already asked) idk guess I am looking for a reassuring answer, scared that I am wasting my money and I will get denied, that's just a lot of money for me.

I'm in south Tiverton RI, near Adamsville, and just a couple miles from Westport Village (MA).

I was terrified I'd get denied because I wanted the surgery so bad. I looked at it as a final chance to get my life back. I never feared the surgery itself, or worried about complications. Wareham has an amazing reputation with excellent results. My life was becoming unbearable - pain, discomfort, misery, depression, isolation, increasing health problems were all making me dread my future. Now my weight problem, and all the other problems caused by excess weight, are gone. It is the single most best thing I have ever done for myself.

Like you, I was worried about the initial expense not covered by my insurance ($500 workshop fee, and deductible for the surgery). That was my biggest out of pocket expense. But after surgery you go to monthly support groups for life, so really you get so much more included in the cost.

What are some of your specific fears and/or worries? I don't know everything but I can certainly share my own personal experience with you. :-)