MissMe27

Thanks so much every body. I called the insurance this morning... they said the negotiations the surgeon is having are not with them, the insurance company, but with the Health Group (the hospital)... so I called the Health Group... they said I need to call my PCP so he can refer me to a different surgeon because it can take a LONG time (if it happens) before the surgeon and the group finish negotiations.

I'm calling my PCP today. What a pain in the butt.

I posted this on another forum before I realized this forum was available... please read:

I believe I met the surgeon that was to perform the Lap-band on me back in October of 2008. Since then I have met with all kinds of specialists for approval of the surgery. I had a sleep test done at the hospital. My insurance, Blue Cross Blue Shield IL - HMO had approved everything... I have/had an appointment scheduled with the surgeon for this coming Friday and I just called to confirm that they had all the evaluations needed so that when I met with the surgeon again we could take the next step which I understood was to schedule the surgery. Well the nurse informed me that due to contract negotiations the insurance has cancelled all surgeries. I have to wait AT LEAST 2 months.... but maybe more. She said another option could be to go back to my primary care doctor and have him refer me to another surgeon at a different hospital since the one I was seeing is the only one covered by my insurance at that hospital.

Should I call the insurance and see what they say?

Should I go see my primary care doctor?

I'm so sad. I am so ready for it now. :thumbup:

I believe I met the surgeon that was to perform the Lap-band on me back in October of 2008. Since then I have met with all kinds of specialists for approval of the surgery. I had a sleep test done at the hospital. My insurance, Blue Cross Blue Shield IL - HMO had approved everything... I have/had an appointment scheduled with the surgeon for this coming Friday and I just called to confirm that they had all the evaluations needed so that when I met with the surgeon again we could take the next step which I understood was to schedule the surgery.

Well the nurse informed me that due to contract negotiations the insurance has cancelled all surgeries. I have to wait AT LEAST 2 months.... but maybe more just to maybe schedule the surgery, mabye. She said another option could be to go back to my primary care doctor and have him refer me to another surgeon at a different hospital since the one I was seeing is the only one covered by my insurance at that hospital.

Should I call the insurance and see what they say?

Should I go see my primary care doctor?

I'm so sad. I am so ready for it now. :thumbup:

Guess not...

Hello there. I'm wondering if anyone here has had their Lap-Band at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn (Chicago, IL)?

I'm going to have my procedure done there, hopefully in the next couple of months by Dr. Ryan Headley.

If so, for how long?

I'm have so much back pain now, I was hoping I'd have the surgery in a couple of months the most.

But I'm just going to meet with the nutritionist tomorrow for the first time and the other 3 specialist next week... then I'll visit the surgeon for the second time in 3 weeks.

Thank you Morgan... I wish I had a good idea when I was having the procedure done, I'm so excited.

So how are you feeling, how's it been so far?

Thanks Ann! So when do you think you'll have the procedure done?

Hi everyone!! My name is Gaby and I'm 27 years-old, I have a 3 year old daughter who is EVERYTHING to me. I am 5'6, 298 lbs. I started putting on weight in 1997 when I was super happy at 169 lbs... and since then I just haven't stopped gaining weight.

My family doctor and I both agreed that LapBand was a good choice for me and so I was referred to a LapBand surgeon who I met once 3 weeks ago, and he seems great. I have to meet with a dietician tomorrow. I also have to meet with a cardiologist, pulmonary doctor and a psychiatrist before my next meeting with my surgeon on December 17.

I can't wait to get going with this. My insurance, so far, has approved to pay for all of it. I keep doing research about it, even though I'm decided to do this, and every now and then I end up at some anti-LapBand site and it freaks me out.

So I guess I'm here for support, advice, friends and whatever you all will provide.

Thanks for reading.

p.s. Any idea what to expect from the meeting with a dietician tomorrow?

I have an appointment to see my family doctor today. I'm going to talk to him about this. I'm tired of doing all the research on this subject and not acting on it. I called my insurance and they cover this 100%. What more can I ask for? Advice I guess. I am 27 years old, have a 3 year old who I would love to run around with. I'm 5'6 and 295 lbs. Exactly 10 years ago I was 178 (and I felt fat then!!!) I'm ready for this.