Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum - Dr. Kirshenbaum and UHC



Recommended Posts

Doctors do not have to participate with any insurance carriers they choose not to. So if he feels he does not want to participate with UHC that is totally his choice.:(

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well obviously!! @@ Poor choice. I went elsewhere, which was good based on other things I've heard.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Dr K is a WONDERFUL resource for those that have to self pay.. LapBand in the US for under 10K is the best deal you will find. There are many doctors that will take various insurance so good luck to you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

the reason he does not accept insurance is because he only charges $9,500.00 where other physicians charge $13,000.00-as much as $19,000.00. I guess sometimes insurance companies make it so hard for us to have surgeries that will benefit us and change our lives and physicians have a hard time dealing with them. However there are some physicians who will accept insurance payment maybe Dr K can refer you to one.

Good luck

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You have got to be kidding! Dr. Kirshenbaum will not accept UHC! I am floored.

Dr. K is the best out there! He doesn't take insurances because he wants to keep his prices affordable for people who do not have WLS coverage! IF it wasn't for Dr. Kirshenbaum, I wouldn't have a Lap Band and I wouldn't be on my way to good health! Every other doctor out there charged $17K or $23K. I paid cash and wouldn't have had the money to pay that!

It's not easy to deal with insurance companies. Doctor's do not always get paid properly AFTER they have done the procedure! I'd say IF you have insurance that will cover the Band, use it and good luck!

As far as I am concerned and 100's of other Band patients who have been blessed with Dr. Kirshenbaum -- feel he is a God send!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I agree with Tied....I was headed to Mexico for surgery...here in Alaska it would've been around $30K (and that's without pre-op appointments, aftercare, and fills!). Through LBT I was able to find Dr. K. I've worked in heathcare for half my life and was very pleased with his bed-side manner, his QUICK responses to calls, and how thorough he was. We had a TERRIFIC phone consult and I was totally at ease making the trip down.

To note, I had no problems getting Dr. K to write a little letter of medical necessity. (This might help with insurance paying for it, if you primary care provider has already documented the pre-qualifying issues then the letter is all you really need if your insurance pays for it - mine didn't.) BUT this letter is good to have for tax reasons, especially if you've spent so much on medications, travel expenses are covered for this too so you can get that deduction!

Besides, if I'd waited for insurance I would've been kicking my butt! The money was worth it! Just wish I'd done it sooner - and with an insurance provider that DID pay for it!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Dr K is a WONDERFUL resource for those that have to self pay.. LapBand in the US for under 10K is the best deal you will find. There are many doctors that will take various insurance so good luck to you.

I owe you so much Tracy for giving me a name. I was one of those selfpay people you speak of. I had no doctor and no direction when insurance told me NO. Thanks again.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×