Is there a site where I can go and check my Medicare to see if they have approved my surgery, or is that something you have to wait and here it from either a referral coordinator or the surgeons office? If anyone know please fill me in, I wanna see if they have a site where you can view their decision when they make one

Go to mymedicare.gov and register with them if you haven't yet. You can check the most recent claims on that site.

I just looked at mine though and it's not showing on there....it may not show until after the surgery (mine is Nov. 25). Sorry. But if it makes you feel any better mine was really quick.

Medicare doesn't require prior auth

Medicaid which differs by state is a different conversation

http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/ncd-details.aspx?NCDId=57&bc=AgAAgAAAAAAA&ncdver=3

I called medicare they said they cover surgery if your body mass is ove 35 and u have a few illness's i have high cholestoral and acid reflex but they said it has to be labled in the file as gerd and my feet hurt i need to have some sort of x rays in my file im kind of lost just starting the whole process i cant just tell my family dr to x ray me and change things like acid reflex to gerd im lost dont know if i should waste my time

I called medicare they said they cover surgery if your body mass is ove 35 and u have a few illness's i have high cholestoral and acid reflex but they said it has to be labled in the file as gerd and my feet hurt i need to have some sort of x rays in my file im kind of lost just starting the whole process i cant just tell my family dr to x ray me and change things like acid reflex to gerd im lost dont know if i should waste my time

The process for working toward WLS can definitely be a long one. Insurance companies are very specific with what they require of their patients, as bariatric surgery is costly and requires a lifetime commitment on the part of the patient. Many of us have problems that could easily be related to our weight, but I'm not surprised that insurance companies want to have documented medical files that these issues factually exist and that other measures have been taken to try and resolve them. It can try your patience with all the steps you have to take, but you're on the right path to a better overall health- keep us posted & feel free to ask your questions

One thing I would be cautious with Medicare about is that they will stiff you on some meds... liquid pain meds are like 2-3 hundred dollars, so make sure your surgeon writes you a script that will be covered. My gf has this issue & went through post op with no meds after she was released home from hospital. Good luck everyone.

They covered everything else though.

Edited November 24, 201411 yr by naturreal