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Lokking for mentor who used Dr. Nick

stromgardgirl

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stromgardgirl    0

stromgardgirl
Posted

Hi. I'm trying to find someone to mentor me along the process with Dr. Nick. Hopefully someone who also went through the 3month program for insurance. I really think this will help me tremendously.

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Happy Destiny    0

Happy Destiny
Posted

Hi. I'm trying to find someone to mentor me along the process with Dr. Nick. Hopefully someone who also went through the 3month program for insurance. I really think this will help me tremendously./QUOTE]

Hi I just saw your note. I used Dr. Nick, but was self pay. I have no experience going through the insurance merry-go-round. Sorry I can't be of help, but wanted to send a reply! Good luck! I'm very satisfied with my surgery! :confused1:

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stromgardgirl    0

stromgardgirl
Posted

Hi. I'm trying to find someone to mentor me along the process with Dr. Nick. Hopefully someone who also went through the 3month program for insurance. I really think this will help me tremendously./QUOTE]

Hi I just saw your note. I used Dr. Nick, but was self pay. I have no experience going through the insurance merry-go-round. Sorry I can't be of help, but wanted to send a reply! Good luck! I'm very satisfied with my surgery! :confused1:

Thank you for replying....it doesn't seem like it will be that bad of process

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disappearingdiva    0

disappearingdiva
Posted

I'm also going with Dr. Nick but I'm on the 6 month waiting list for my insurance. Why don't you go to his support group Wends night? Starts at 6:30 I'm going just to see what it's like and to speak with people directly.

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stromgardgirl    0

stromgardgirl
Posted

I really have no one to watch my children, and my husband isn't home yet to watch them. I have 2 appts scheduled already YAY. I have one this sunday and one on the 25th of this month (hoping they have a cancellation so I can get in sooner). I'm just glad to be moving forward in my journey.

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DallMike    0

DallMike
Posted

Hi Stromgardgirl. I used Dr. Nick and Aetna PPO. I also went thru the 3 months nutrition classes. Also had the sleep study, and psyche eval. Feel free to ask me anything. I'm almost 6 weeks out and feeling pretty good. Congrats and good luck!

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stromgardgirl    0

stromgardgirl
Posted

Hi Stromgardgirl. I used Dr. Nick and Aetna PPO. I also went thru the 3 months nutrition classes. Also had the sleep study, and psyche eval. Feel free to ask me anything. I'm almost 6 weeks out and feeling pretty good. Congrats and good luck!

I'm using Aetna Choice POS II I'm hoping I can get everything done by end of year including surgery. How long of wait for surgery did you have after you completed everything? I just got my sleep study results today which were good no apnea or other sleep issues. I have my first dietician appt on monday then meet with PA at dr nicks office on thursday. still need to schedule psych eval hope not long wait to get in.

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DallMike    0

DallMike
Posted

Completing by the end of the year will be close. Aetna wants 4 nutrition classes spaced over 90 days. I squeaked thru at 84. Also Dr. Nick will probably taking some vacation time and others will be squeezing in to use FSAs before the end of the year. I certainly think it is doable. They are very efficient.

I started my nut classes the end of Feb. I was scheduled for RNY. The nut classes are pretty basic. You can print the same info off the USDA or FDAs websites. April 12 I heard Aetna was going to approve sleeves so I told Summar to switch me. I was approved about May 3. I finished my psyche eval and last nut class May 22. They wanted to schedule surgery for June 1! I didn't think I was quite ready due to some of lifes little events and Dr. Nick was on vacation the rest of June so July 12th it was. Everything was fast compared to other stories.

My biggest worry now I how much do I really owe??? Dr. Nick's office couldn't say upfront. That kind of worried me. I paid the hospital $1300 when admitted which was the balance of my remaining co-insurance since I had met my deductible for the year. Aetna's website is showing completed bills with coinsurance due of $12,800+! The hospital said once my co-insurance max was reached, the $1300, Aetna picked up the rest 100%. I haven't received any bills so who knows. I will be very upset if I end up getting bills totaling more than the cash price when my insurance has coverage. I'm enjoying the moment and keeping my fingers crossed.

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stromgardgirl    0

stromgardgirl
Posted

Completing by the end of the year will be close. Aetna wants 4 nutrition classes spaced over 90 days. I squeaked thru at 84. Also Dr. Nick will probably taking some vacation time and others will be squeezing in to use FSAs before the end of the year. I certainly think it is doable. They are very efficient.

I started my nut classes the end of Feb. I was scheduled for RNY. The nut classes are pretty basic. You can print the same info off the USDA or FDAs websites. April 12 I heard Aetna was going to approve sleeves so I told Summar to switch me. I was approved about May 3. I finished my psyche eval and last nut class May 22. They wanted to schedule surgery for June 1! I didn't think I was quite ready due to some of lifes little events and Dr. Nick was on vacation the rest of June so July 12th it was. Everything was fast compared to other stories.

My biggest worry now I how much do I really owe??? Dr. Nick's office couldn't say upfront. That kind of worried me. I paid the hospital $1300 when admitted which was the balance of my remaining co-insurance since I had met my deductible for the year. Aetna's website is showing completed bills with coinsurance due of $12,800+! The hospital said once my co-insurance max was reached, the $1300, Aetna picked up the rest 100%. I haven't received any bills so who knows. I will be very upset if I end up getting bills totaling more than the cash price when my insurance has coverage. I'm enjoying the moment and keeping my fingers crossed.

That is one of the main reasons I want it done by end of year. All my deductibles and out of pocket for the year. I thought it was only 3 nut classes? How did you get approval before last nut appt was done?

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DallMike    0

DallMike
Posted

I may have messed up on date estimates. It all happened fast the last month. Summar was Dr. Nick's insurance coordinator that handled everything. Aetna has to respond within 14 business days and I was calling Summar and Aetna on day 10 asking if I was approved. She is great. Everyone has been great. I was told to do 4 classes, but if only 3 great because they're kind of silly. There is a booklet though that is helpful.

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Go To Topic Listing PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

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    • Aunty Mamo

      Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
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    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
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    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
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    • ChunkCat

      ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
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      · 0 replies
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    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
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