Hello all, I am new here. My PCP broached the subject of bariatric surgery recently. I am pretty interested. Has anyone dealt with this insurance company recently and bariatric surgery? When I called they told me the first step is to do 12 months of a documented weight loss program before anything else related to surgery. Timing wise, I found this a bit discouraging- as I have time intensive goals next september. Anyone have experience going through Horizon NJ Health? Thanks.

Cardio: if you have any problems and even sometimes when you don't ... Cardiac Stress Test

Pulmonology: do a Pulmonary Function Test

Cardiac Stress Test. Is when you run on a tread mill hooked up to EKG

Pulmonary Function test is a bunch of blowing into a tube while a computer measures your output

Both are fairly simple and we'll worth it for the clearance and if you survived the nasty Barium Swallow... Those will be CAKE!!!

When and where is November pre-op class?? I will go ...

Hello! Thanks for the feedback. Horizon NJ Health doesn't cover the nutrition consult? That's crazy, since it's required! Do you mind if I ask you a few questions. I think it would be very helpful since you are using the same doc, with the same insurance plan as I am.

What preop requirements did the doc and/or insurance have?
Could you have completed the checklist faster and gotten a surgery date faster?
I'm hoping to have surgery after this semester ends, and before the next- so around Dec 19 if possible.
Was the doc supportive of your preference for VSG over banding?

Thanks

hello ladies Dr Attia Will Be My Surgeon Also Dont Have A Date Yet My Doc App Is Nov 21 yayyyyy I Also Have Horizon Nj Halth Plan D Maybe You Ladies Can Be My SUPPORT System

Hello! How long was the process with Attia if I may ask?

The preop class I want to go to is Nov 21st, a Thursday. It runs from 9:30-11:30am at Kennedy Stratford. We have to call 856-346-6470 to reserve a seat.

Welcome Ranisha! I am using Dr.Neff. From consult to hopefully surgery date will be just under 2 months for me. I also am trying to have surgery during semesters. It could be very challenging to accomplish everything in less than one month.

First, you need to get open appointments to a good 6 specialists. They may need to order more tests. The specialists will need some time to write up their reports and send to the surgeon. The insurance company may take a week (or who knows how long, just a guess) to approve you. The surgeon also needs an open slot on his OR schedule. If you are like me, perhaps classes don't begin again til Jan 21st? Perhaps you have a bit of wiggle room with surgery timeline?

Could you talk to your surgeon about beginning your preop clearances before the first appointment? I scheduled my NUT and psych ahead of time, all the way back in September! As you can see from my sig, it took til Nov to get them scheduled.

You need a referral from your primary anyway, and they will also be the one to write your referrals for preop clearances. I'd call the surgeon, tell them the situation. If they say it's ok get a list of clearances they will need, call around Horizon providers and find the quickest appointment dates you can. That's the only way I can think of to have a shot at the surgery timeline you want. Keep in mind, you will likely need to schedule a second appointment, preop, with the surgeon before your surgery date.

My surgeon does all three major surgeries, and didn't express his preference to me. He asked what I wanted. The first surgeon I met seemed to really prefer the band. I wanted a surgeon who does these often and is fully convinced of the sleeves benefit. I read that the best way to avoid complications (that is within our control) is to pick an experienced surgeon. My surgeon said he was the first to do the sleeve, and the most experienced in it, in all of South Jersey.

Good luck to you!

Horizon nj health do pay for the nutritionist consult I have done two already and will be doing my third one nov20th at inspira aka south jersey health care in bridgeton

I already done my pych eval and have one more support classes and nutrition class to do I will be finished everyrhing nov 27th

I already done my pych eval and have one more support classes and nutrition class to do I will be finished everyrhing nov 27th

Hello! Thanks for the feedback. Horizon NJ Health doesn't cover the nutrition consult? That's crazy, since it's required! Do you mind if I ask you a few questions. I think it would be very helpful since you are using the same doc, with the same insurance plan as I am.

What preop requirements did the doc and/or insurance have?

Could you have completed the checklist faster and gotten a surgery date faster?

I'm hoping to have surgery after this semester ends, and before the next- so around Dec 19 if possible.

Was the doc supportive of your preference for VSG over banding?

Thanks

hello ladies Dr Attia Will Be My Surgeon Also Dont Have A Date Yet My Doc App Is Nov 21 yayyyyy I Also Have Horizon Nj Halth Plan D Maybe You Ladies Can Be My SUPPORT System

Hello! How long was the process with Attia if I may ask?

Horizon nj health care covered my nutritionists visits I done 2 so far and have 1 last one to do thos month dr Attia informed me that the prosess will take 3 months because of the 3 support meeting and 3 nutritionsts visits which are once a month and one phyc eval before he can submitt it to insurance that's what was told to me by dr attia in september 3 months later is nov I will see dr attia nov21

I'm guess once I'm approved he will give me a date I'm hoping its around late dec early january but that's up to dr attia schedule

Horizon nj health do pay for the nutritionist consult I have done two already and will be doing my third one nov20th at inspira aka south jersey health care in bridgeton

Yep, they pay for that. Just the psych clearance for surgery they told me they don't cover.

The psychiatrist I met with suggested I might want to set up an appointment with my local counseling center to talk through whatever might be on my mind. She said that getting in for the initial appointment takes a long time, as there's only one service in my area that takes Horizon, but that followup appointments would be able to be scheduled routinely. She said Horizon would cover those appointments, just not the clearance.

I might make an appointment for shortly after surgery just in case. I don't feel a burning need to talk to someone now but it would be good to be able to see someone without a two month wait if and when I want it. If I don't want it later? Cancel. Who knows what emotional rollercoaster surgery will be. What happens when you can't eat your emotions?

Anywho...I'm getting off topic!

I'm guess once I'm approved he will give me a date I'm hoping its around late dec early january but that's up to dr attia schedule

Great, you are ahead of the game! I wonder why he is requiring 3 NUTS and and 3 support group meetings preop. My surgical group, along with the requirements of Horizon, only require one of each.

What did you think of the support group meetings?

What do you and the NUT do?

Great, you are ahead of the game! I wonder why he is requiring 3 NUTS and and 3 support group meetings preop. My surgical group, along with the requirements of Horizon, only require one of each.

What did you think of the support group meetings?

What do you and the NUT do?

The Nutritionst just give tools on how and what to eat after surgery portion control ect vitiman protein options I was told that horizon nj health requires all this once a month for three months yesterday I went out and purchased everything my nutritionst told me to get vitimans whey protein 60g protein shakes b12 bioten gas x heating pad food scale I got the biggest losser one and a weight watcher body mass scale I also got 3 oz storage containers and protein shaker ladies if its possible stat to buy things now because these things are not cheap so try and get them out the way the last thing I wanna do is shop after surgery