Hi,

I just got banded on March 5th. I went in on the 13th

for the post-op visit. I am down 20 lbs from pre-op diet

and one week with no fill in my band.

I found out, since I am on Medicare, that Medicare will only pay for doctor visits, for fills, every 91 days.

(So, if I have problems in between, I will be paying out of

pocket.)

I talked to my boss, banded 1 1/2 yrs, and she goes in for

fills every 6 weeks. But, she has a different insurance.

I was reading on this forum about someone telling another person they need a new doctor if the doctor is not aggressive enough with fills between times.

I am not in control or have the priviledge to get fills any faster than 91 days apart.

That may have been good advice for someone, but I just

want to let everyone to know, that sometimes we have to

wait for our insurance to allow us more progress.

I look at this way, I will be more attentive to my food intake and exerise while I wait the 91 days between fills.

This will force me to be vigilant until my next fill.

Eartha

Or since you can only go every 91 days, have your doc put more in to start. That's what I would do, but we're all differently. Or I'd pay for more frequent ones...because...my doc is conservative and it's taken me from august to now to finally feel restriction. It is much easier with restriction...but I am struggling because for 6 months I could eat anything and felt like the band had failed. I'd rather have had more restriction earlier on. If I had it to do over, I'd tell my doc I preferred a slightly more aggressive approach.

My next fill is 3.24.2009.. I am in need of one..

Edited March 16, 200917 yr by olivia_99

It could be worse, you could of self paid, like me..My fills are only covered 1 year and after that, you guessed it, I pay even more money! I'm fighting my insurance to remberse me, but I don't think I'll see a dime..Hang in there, it may be a blessing..For at least 2 weeks, I can't hardly eat, because no matter how much I chew, I still have a hard time..

My Dr includes the first 90 days (fills or visits) as part of the surgery and follow-up so maybe you can get your first two fills hidden from medicare that way then the third fill according to medicare's rules.