rene2005

I'm thinking of getting stock in this. It was at $63 a share. As more and more ins cos go up and then when medicare (i have medicare) will start to cover it I think its gonna skyrocket. Since like me, I have but on 50 pds from being sick for 6 yrs as a lot of people do who have medicare. Rene

I wanted to know what did your insurance require you to show as proof of failed diet attempts ect. I get get much out of Kaiser (HMO) so I kinda want to know as I have NO documentation. I have a 37 BMI with Pre diabetes and hypoglycemia. Thanks!

Hi THank you all for your replies!! My bmi in under 40 BUT i have the comorbidities. One obesityhelp when i posted this most said it has to be medically supervised as I was asking about TOPS. SO I think my liver part is ok. Thanks, Rene

Wanted to know if most people we able to lose in their diets that was ordered by the docs. If you don't stick to it then do u not get it or if u succeed then do u get it. Do you have to prove you can diet or do you have to prove you can't? What if you bmi gets to low? Thanks, Rene

Yea I was wondering the same thing too. But I have never been able to keep the weight off for 6 months anyway and what I'll do is just start eating more the last couple of months. Like who isn't gonna gain weight to get it. Its all a game to me. If we could keep it off we would! I don't have the documentaion either so I will have to do that too!

I know probably that Kaisers are different but I called (I have senior advantage I'm only 38) and the said that yes they do cover both bypass and just started covering the band. She looked it up for me. She did say that your dr has to state that shes feels the lap band would be better for the patient then the bypass. Thanks, Rene

I called the local lap place here in Sacramento and she said that medicare only covers bypass. But she said that what they can do is bill medicare for the hospital stay and I'd have to pay a total of $7200 for the surgery and that would include on yr of fills. I told her I had called medicare and that the lady AT MEDICARE told me to just have my dr send it the papers that the dr would know how to code it. Medicare would not tell me outright if its covered. The lady in Sac said that yes if a dr is willing to "fudge" the coding that they can get it covered but that their drs don't do that. I'm going to keep waiting until I know that medicare will cover it. I know someday medicare will cover it!! Thannks Rene

HI thanks for all the replys. I called to today and she said that my dr would know how to send in the paperwork to get it covered. All I know is that medicare a few months ago took the wording OUT of the "policy" stating that obesity isn't considered disease. I think I will call obesity clinic that do the surgery and ask them!? Thanks, Rene

Hi Do you know what medicares requirement is? BMI? Docmumentaion of diet?? Extra diseases like diabetes?? tHANKS

Hi I'm in California. I have medicare senior advantage Kaiser. I went to the NIH last yr and loved it for my chronic disease which I still have. Anyway I swear I read somewhere Kaiser does cover lap in san fran. I guess I was wrong. I could dis enroll and just use medicare. When did you get yours?? 40 BMI and TWo medical conditions??? Thats a lot. Did you have to show proof of diets that failed? I do know I have read medicare does consider obesity a disease now of its own. Maybe they changed thier quidelines. Your right that different Kaisers do different things. Thanks all for the info. I think I'll go to San Fran too to get mine done. Thanks, Rene

I don't have any diet documentation. DO you know what theres are? Do you always have to have a diet documented and for how long? Thanks! Rene

I would think so! Even if a person is self pay wouldn't the money saved go down quite a bit? Do you have to take more then a daily vitsamin? thanks! rene

Hi I am thinking of getting the lap band of course but wanted to know if you save alot of money on food especially for those who live alone? Of course then you have to buy all new clothes but who cares! Thanks, Rene