Hey all just starting my process with Kaiser and I go August 5th for my medical and mental evaluations and was just wanting to hear of any experiences with Kaiser. How long was your journey? Classes? Pre-op diet?

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Well sad update guys...gotta put a hold on surgery. I found out after my consultation that I have to pay $6,850 before they do the surgery...I unfortunately don't have stacks of money laying around so hopefully with taxes. We are also looking into adding me to my husbands insurance since they cover the surgery as well. But for now it's a no go...very emotionally draining day.

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So sorry to hear that the process is so challenging in Southern CA and on the East Coast. I have Northern CA Kaiser and it has been a quick and seemless process. KP is know for being great here in NorCal, but the reputation is poor elsewhere. :-/.

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Well sad update guys...gotta put a hold on surgery. I found out after my consultation that I have to pay $6,850 before they do the surgery...I unfortunately don't have stacks of money laying around so hopefully with taxes. We are also looking into adding me to my husbands insurance since they cover the surgery as well. But for now it's a no go...very emotionally draining day.

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Oh man! Really sorry to hear that. Hard to image that is the before surgery amount. I called this morning and the Kaiser portion isn't that bad (less than $1500 total) but the total at St. Joseph's is $14k for the bypass and that is based on me having 50% co-insurance for the bariatric benefit and there is no out of pocket max or deductible applied to this benefit. St. Joe requires me to put $2k down and apparently pay for the remaining $12k over 18 months. This is still ridiculous . Now both Kaiser and the hospital have financial assistance plans but apparently consider bariatric surgery as cosmetic. I am in open enrollment right now and may switch to Aetna because I understand it is treated as any other surgery so my out of pocket max would be $2500 which is so much more affordable. I really like my treatment at Kaiser more than Aetna in the past but that's why this decision is so troubling for me. I am approved for classes finally beginning in 2 weeks. Hopefully you won't have to wait too long to get your surgery done and maybe your husband's insurance will help you keep your cost down.

Edited October 13, 20169 yr by Dymeond

Yes he has Aetna as well and I think we are going to add me to his insurance. Aetna considers bariatric surgery medically necessary. Yes st Joseph is the ones who are saying I have to pay the 6850 before surgery. That is my out of pocket max with Kaiser. So hopefully they will be able to run the 6850 through the secondary insurance and the max out of pocket for that one is 3,000 that they would bill me for

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That is interesting . If your full total with St Joe is only 6850 and mine Is $14k it doesn't make sense why they only require $2k from me but full amount from you. Just weird. Aetna does treat as medically necessary. I wish I could purchase both insurances lol. If your husband adds you it likely will not be an issue for St. Joe. They really don't care who pays and will be more lenient. Another thing is if you don't have a FSA already you could do it for $2500 and the full amount is available to use at the beginning of the year . You can even schedule your surgery at the end of Jan and won't have to wait until tax time. I am using mine in the same way. Even the amount I have left this year I will be able to combine with next years amount towards my expenses if I am scheduled for Jan. That is just an idea to consider.

That is interesting . If your full total with St Joe is only 6850 and mine Is $14k it doesn't make sense why they only require $2k from me but full amount from you. Just weird. Aetna does treat as medically necessary. I wish I could purchase both insurances lol. If your husband adds you it likely will not be an issue for St. Joe. They really don't care who pays and will be more lenient. Another thing is if you don't have a FSA already you could do it for $2500 and the full amount is available to use at the beginning of the year . You can even schedule your surgery at the end of Jan and won't have to wait until tax time. I am using mine in the same way. Even the amount I have left this year I will be able to combine with next years amount towards my expenses if I am scheduled for Jan. That is just an idea to consider.

I love having FSA! I completely forgot about it too. Thanks for the reminder!

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Yes! And those who have a HSA can benefit as well!

I am with Kaiser to in Denver Colorado and I meet up with the surgeon on Tuesday at 11am. Just finished my six weeks class last Tuesday and they called me back on that Thursday. I am excited about it and wonder what all we are going to talk about when I get there. I am ready to start the liver strinking diet I have already been in the gym working out

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Do you have your surgery date yet?

Yes Dec 29th at 11am :-)

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Well update everyone I'm on day 2 of the liver shrinking diet! Surgery is the 29th

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Wow! You guys are having surgery the same day. Congrats to you both!

Krystal did something change with your payment? I was told from Kaiser my deductible and out of pocket max in 2017 would now apply so if it holds true the most I will have to pay is $1500. Keeping my fingers crossed.

No I got added to my husbands insurance so with a secondary insurance I won't have to pay anything out of pocket before surgery.

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So happy for you! Yet nervous as well. Good luck on your surgery today. You will certainly be in my prayers. Please keep us updated on your progress!

Just got the green light from both evaluations next step is starting my 6 week classes!!!

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Congrats! I wish all Kaisers had the same process! Haha. My orientation isn't until next week on the 11th. Options classes start in September, but ours in So. Cal. are 12 weeks long. I don't know for sure but I think I might have to do a diet plan thru WW since I don't have any MSWL on record. I emailed the RN and she said they would be happy to answer any questions at the orientation lol, so I got no answers but it's okay cause I can wait a week. I wonder how fast you'll get your surgery date after the classes? Do you have to do a MSWL program? And do you have a required sleep study? JW Lol. I'm rambling, CONGRATS!

Time will fly. 12 weeks go like nothing. You'll go over Vitamins, post op, Protein and meal planning. It was also very beneficial and kinda therapeutic. You'll do blood work, urine, stool, xray.. I had to do ekg too. It's so quick with Kaiser to knock em all down. Surgery is quick after but if you're diabetic you have to lower you sugar to a 7.0 or less. I took classes in panorama city, lost health care cause of Obama care and now I did them in antelope valley. I'm a drive 70 miles to the West Los Angeles Kaiser on Cadillac, nurses from both panorama and Lancaster told me it's the best just wanted to share

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