Phil38783

Hello all, Just had the Initial meeting with the Surgeon today, and went thru all the insurance stuff with the insurance coordinator..... .....as expected, I could not get a specific number or even a general number of what my finale out-of -pocket cost for this surgery would be. ($35k to $100K) My primary insurance covers 80% of the cost associated with the surgery, I would assume my secondary would cover the remainder of the cost leaving me with a nominal amount to have to pony up before anything is done. I have Banner Health insurance as my secondary, there is a min. $5K deductable for elected surgeries. She lead me to believe that I would have to pay that to banner before anything is done. I would like to know if anyone has used dual insurance for their surgery and how much was their out of pocket expense. Thanks in advance Phillip

Hello All! Happy New Year! With the New Year, I am sure that everyone is looking forward to a new beginning and future as am I! The issue that I am having is trying to get a straight answer from my Insurance Company (ies) regarding who is the primary payer on any medical procedure, device, or medication that I have prescribed to me by a doctor. I’ve finally made a decision to have the vertical sleeve done by Banner Gateway MC in Gilbert, AZ. I think that will be the best option for me in the long term. What has me even more excited is the Idea that it is a covered benefit thru the Insurance provided thru my company, United Healthcare, and thru my wife’s Insurance, Banner Health, but with way more hoops to jump thru. I want this done sooner than later, and I have all the documentation that the Insurance companies want to prove the medical need for the surgery, but I don’t think anything has been covered by my United Health as the primary, It’s always listed on the bill summaries as the secondary insurance. My wife says (who is a nurse for Banner) that it goes by who’s (the Insured) birthday is first in the year, both policies say that the Primary insurance is the policy holder in the instance of dual coverage. Can ANYONE please shed some light on this? Thanks, Phillip

Hello to all..... ....I am sure this is a question that has been posted a million times now, but I would like to hear about members average time to surgery. I'm still in the "Im thinking about it" stage, but I am registered for an information session at Banner Gateway in Gilbert, AZ. I currently weigh 375lb, I'm 5'11" an have co-morbidities of high blood pressure, and prior surgery for an Aortic dissection because of blood pressure over 2 years ago. Had my aortic arch replaced with a darcon graft and heart valve replacement with a mechanical heart valve all done at Banner Good Samaritan in Phoenix. I initially lost almost 90 lbs after surgery, but of course its all back again. My current insurance is Banner Health and United Healthcare choice plus.

Thank you all for your posts to this question.... ...The Banner web site basicly says "It depends" but I guess I will see in the seminar. My Nepherologist is urging me desperatly to do this. because I went thru all the supervised dieting and counseling from my first stay in the hospital for my dissection and then the rehab afterwards he seems to think I should breeze thru it Lose the 20-30 lbs and go stright to surgery. Guess we'll see. Phillip

What about jucing? Has anyone asked about doing this post op?