Sarah 82

I have PCOS and I'm currently 5 months post op sleeve. I just recently started having issues with my hair falling out. However, the hair everywhere else has started growing in like crazy on my face, neck, and even my lower back! I've always had problems with the hair in those areas but it's been controllable. Now no matter what I do or how often it seems it just keeps coming in thicker and thicker. Anyone else experience this? Also, how long after your sleeve before you started ovulating? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm from Henderson, TX and was sleeved November 2015. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

If you need help understanding your benefits, I can give you advice from the hospital/facility side of things. Part of my job is to get prior authorizations and calculate how much patients will owe for certain services. I haven't been getting notifications when someone posts on here so if you don't get an answer within 24 hours then send me an email at sseelbach@live.com.

SusanB55: not all insurance plans require a supervised diet and/or weight loss prior to surgery. I also have BCBS and my plan didn't require it. The preop diet is usually recommended more as a way to get you prepared for how you'll eat after surgery. Some surgeons also do it so you can shrink your liver to make it easier during the procedure. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have PCOS and I'm currently 5 months post op sleeve. I just recently started having issues with my hair falling out. However, the hair everywhere else has started growing in like crazy on my face, neck, and even my lower back! I've always had problems with the hair in those areas but it's been controllable. Now no matter what I do or how often it seems it just keeps coming in thicker and thicker. Anyone else experience this? Also, how long after your sleeve before you started ovulating? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Henderson! Anyone else in the North East Texas area? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Henderson! Anyone else in the North East Texas area? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I also have PCOS and I'm now 5 months out from the Sleeve. I went from September till February without a period, which isn't totally abnormal for me. Then it came like normal in March. Nothing so far this month. My doctor recently reduced my Metformin dose since my blood sugar is better than before surgery. My endocrinologist just advised me to be patient because my body is still adjusting to everything. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

If your Medicaid will pay for it, that's going to be your best option because you won't have any cost share. Also, idk what state you're in but for Texas, it's very rare that you would qualify for Medicaid if you've got commercial insurance. That said, yes, there are several insurances that have bariatric coverage. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I worked with True Results out of Dallas also and had surgery at Baylor. I also work with insurance and telling patients how much they'll owe for procedures as part of my job. I ended up having to be the one to explain to Baylor what my bariatric benefits are. They had them all messed up. I can tell you that $8000 is the most you'll pay out of pocket for ALL medical services until your plan rolls over. If you want, I can look into it for you from a provider's viewpoint. If you'll send me an email with your full name, DOB, and insurance info I'll see what they tell me about it. I have access to a few more resources than you probably do. My work email is Sarah.seelbach@uthct.edu Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

The patient advocate with true results is probably not the person that's actually in charge of getting your prior authorization approved. I used True Results in Dallas and my advocate told me I was good to go but it was a different person that called to verify my requirements etc. My suggestion is to call your insurance again and ask for specific benefits for your plan. I work with insurance as part of my job so if you'd like me to check into it for you I can one day this week from work. Just send me an email with your full name, DOB, and id#. sseelbach@live.com Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

It sounds like it's just in medical review right now. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Also, policies vary so just because someone else with Cigna got theirs approved that soon doesn't mean yours would've been. Some insurances even have what's called a predetermine period and those can take up to 30 business days. If you'll send me an email with your full name, DOB, ID#, and the exact name of the insurance on your card I can look into it further this week at work. There may be something they're waiting on in order to process a decision. Sseelbach@live.com

Sorry I didn't get a notification with your post. If you still need help, send your name, dob, and insurance id to my email. I'll check your benefits from work this week. Sseelbach@live.com

You'll be considered a self pay patient. The only option you have is to find out how much the facility where the surgery will be will cost. They're who you'll have to pay upfront. Most facilities will give self pay patients a 50% discount off the total cost of the surgery. Then you'll probably be expected to pay half of that upfront. Where I had mine done, it would've been about $15k if I wouldn't have had insurance. That doesn't include any inpatient stay.

Sarah, If my employer excluded all Bariatric procedures in our coverage, what options do I have?

The amount you should owe will be determined by the facility your surgery is at. You'll have to pay your deductible at the very least but some facilities let you pay half of that upfront and be billed the remainder. It really depends on the policy of that specific facility.

Sorry this reply took so long! I just started getting notifications for this site. It varies from insurance to insurance but usually whatever your BMI is when the authorization request is submitted is what they will go by.

If you need help understanding your benefits, let me know and I can probably explain how things work from the hospital/facility end. I do prior authorizations and figure out how much patients owe for services as part of my job.

I wouldn't go to Mexico. They're standards aren't like America. I had surgery here with no issues. My best friend had hers in Mexico and has now been hospitalized for over 3 months! One infection/problem after another. She nearly died and has been on a feeding tube ever since.