skinnysoon

I went to the offices of Dr. Peter LePort in May '05. I went there because 1) it was close by my home 2) recommended by my local hospital and 3) I read time and time again how they had HUGE success with insurance companies if/when you were denied and were willing to go the "extra" mile for their patients. After spending 5 months with them, attending classes, getting they psych referrals, sleep-apnea test they said I needed, my insurance denied me as a proceedure not covered. I changed insurance companies in November during open enrollment and started the process all over again in February. They made me repeat everything as it was more than 6 months old. My new insurance denied me stating the LapBand was experimental. I asked them to work with me on an appeal. THEY FLAT OUT SAID NO! I was told my only option was to pay cash or lose weight the "old-fashioned way" - YES THAT IS WHAT I WAS TOLD. I paid many charges out-of-pocket. They have a refund policy so I asked for a refund. I had to call repetedly and their Accounting person DANA was so condescending and downright NASTY I could not believe this person was allowed to talk to patients. It's now the very end of July '06 and I just got my refund . . . . not all of it. Moral of the story here, if I had to do it all over again, I would go straight to Mexcio and not waste a year of my life hoping and praying for their promised assistance in dealing with insurance. The amount of money I spent to attend their "classes" only to be belittled and treated so badly would have been better spent on getting the surgery done. I WOULD NOT/WILL NOT RECOMMEND THIS OFFICE.

Anyone in CA had success getting Highmark/ Blue Cross Blue Shield to cover their LapBand procedure? I've been denied saying it was experimental. I understand others have been approved in other states so I need to know if anyone in CA has been approved/had surgery. This info will help me in my fight! I need all the help I can get . . . THANK YOU!