I called the local lap place here in Sacramento and she said that medicare only covers bypass. But she said that what they can do is bill medicare for the hospital stay and I'd have to pay a total of $7200 for the surgery and that would include on yr of fills.

I told her I had called medicare and that the lady AT MEDICARE told me to just have my dr send it the papers that the dr would know how to code it. Medicare would not tell me outright if its covered. The lady in Sac said that yes if a dr is willing to "fudge" the coding that they can get it covered but that their drs don't do that.

I'm going to keep waiting until I know that medicare will cover it.

I know someday medicare will cover it!!

Thannks

Rene

Rene, I just found your thread here. I wanted to tell you that Medicare paid for my Lap-Band. No qurestion asked and It went through the first time. It paid for Dr., pre op testing, phyc eval., surgeon, Lap-band and hospital. I only had to pay my co pay and of course the 20% they don't cover. The total cost of everything from begining to end was $24,000 and I had to pay $1,500. And not all at once. I paid a little here and a little there and then on some I am still paying on.

I know this thread was back in June so I don't know if you got any answers since then.

If you have any questions just let me know.

My surgery was back in November 04.

Good luck,

How would I go about getting ahold of medicare to see if my mom would be covered? Did they approve it before your surgery? I heard they do not approve ahead of time and you take your chances on whether they will cover it. Thanks

Hi Terri, I guess there is some way but I've called the local clinics here in Sacramento and they don't take it. So I'll wait until the medicare report comes out on reviewing the lapband.

Thanks!