hi everyone. So far i'm not having the surgery but i want it really bad. I've tried for like 5 years and each time I have been turned down by my insurance company. and get this... I weigh a whopping 283 and i'm only 5 foot 5 inches. I now have medicad and not sure how to get started. I live in the mendota area and i know theres no doctors here to do the surgery. I know my regular doc has to refer me to another doc to do the surgery, i need to know how to get that started. how long does it take from day one to get okayed for this? help!!! anyone that can help.... my email address is spoorq@hotmail.com and if you email me.. please put in the message line... lapband.. that way i know its not spam. by the way.. my name is Barb or BarbieQ.

Thanks everyone.

hi everyone. So far i'm not having the surgery but i want it really bad. I've tried for like 5 years and each time I have been turned down by my insurance company. and get this... I weigh a whopping 283 and i'm only 5 foot 5 inches. I now have medicad and not sure how to get started. I live in the mendota area and i know theres no doctors here to do the surgery. I know my regular doc has to refer me to another doc to do the surgery, i need to know how to get that started. how long does it take from day one to get okayed for this? help!!! anyone that can help.... my email address is spoorq@hotmail.com and if you email me.. please put in the message line... lapband.. that way i know its not spam. by the way.. my name is Barb or BarbieQ.

Thanks everyone.

How long it takes depends on the insurance. Mine took only a week. I was banded 4 weeks after my first phone call to the surgeon's office. Most insurance take much longer. It all depends on the requirements they have. First step is to immediately get your referral and find a bariatric surgeon who does banding and accepts medicaid. Once there, they should have staff that handles insurance and will know exactly what to do. Good Luck!

Barbie, start with your insurance. Call the insurance company just to make sure WLS is a covered benefit. If it is, ask them to send you in writing the requirements to get approved for WLS.

Once you confirm that the surgery is a covered benefit, set up an appointment with your PC to get the process moving along.

If you have problems with the insurance company or receive confusing or conflicting information, have your PC doctor's billing person/office manager contact the insurance company.

Good luck!