Medicare, where hast thou gone?
Hello everbody my name is Daphne and I am looking for a surgeon to
perform the Gastric Bypass Surgery on me. My problem it seems, is
having Medicare. I have gone to approx. 6 doctors here in South
Florida and none will take Medicare. They say that Medicare won’t
pay them because the Gastric Bypass Surgery in nothing but a cosmetic
operation to look good. They say it is not a life saving operation
but a selective one. In the meantime I’m screwed because I keep on
waiting and waiting and getting more obese.
I also go to the Veterans Hospital because of my years of service in
a war era. They said that they can operate me but I would have to
move to Georgia or Tennessee for the operation and stay there for 6
months. I have a family, I am the sole bread winner in my home. How
am I going to quit my excellent job, make my kids quit school, keep
paying mortgage on my home to go there for 6 months and then come
back and re-stablish everything. It’s utterly ridiculous.
Can any of you please give me some feedback as to what I can do. I am
totally disoriented here. I’m drowning here!
Sincerely,
Desperate.
April 18th, 2005 at 4:38 am
Daphne,
Have you tried Obesityhelp.com? You can search by the surgeon and then what
insurance has paid for the surgery. Hope this helps and Good Luck.
Sharon
Jacksonville, FL = Open RNY 05/13/02 = Dr. Eric Thoburn Gainesville, Fl
5′9" 310/250 - 66bs in 3 months
April 18th, 2005 at 3:19 pm
Daphne,
Here is one name I found and she has BCBS MEDICARE and HMO MEDICARE listed.
Patricia M. Byers M.D.
Phone Number : 305-585-1184
April 19th, 2005 at 2:01 am
my understanding is that medicare does pay for this surgery,
particularly if it’s medically necessary. It sounds as though you’ve
chosen docs who don’t want to work with medicare. Which is their right,
after all, medicare doesn’t pay much. Is there a teaching hospital
within an hour or two of you, one attached to a medical school? You
might have better luck there finding a doc who will work with medicare.
My insurance won’t pay, either, so I’m self-pay, but for me it’s worth
it. But I’m just the sole bread winner for me and two cats. Pretty big
cats, but still, not quite the same.
Good luck!
Pam in Niceville
preop
Lap RNY 11/20/02
Dr. Champion/Atlanta
Daphne writes:
Hello everbody my name is Daphne and I am looking for a surgeon to
perform the Gastric Bypass Surgery on me. My problem it seems, is
having Medicare. I have gone to approx. 6 doctors here in South
Florida and none will take Medicare. They say that Medicare won’t
pay them because the Gastric Bypass Surgery in nothing but a cosmetic
operation to look good. They say it is not a life saving operation
but a selective one. In the meantime I’m screwed because I keep on
waiting and waiting and getting more obese.
I also go to the Veterans Hospital because of my years of service in
a war era. They said that they can operate me but I would have to
move to Georgia or Tennessee for the operation and stay there for 6
months. I have a family, I am the sole bread winner in my home. How
am I going to quit my excellent job, make my kids quit school, keep
paying mortgage on my home to go there for 6 months and then come
back and re-stablish everything. It’s utterly ridiculous.
Can any of you please give me some feedback as to what I can do. I am
totally disoriented here. I’m drowning here!
Sincerely,
Desperate.
ADVERTISEMENT
April 19th, 2005 at 8:06 pm
<< I am looking for a surgeon to perform the Gastric Bypass Surgery on me.
My problem it seems, is having Medicare. I have gone to approx. 6 doctors
here in South
Florida and none will take Medicare. They say that Medicare won’t pay them
because the Gastric Bypass Surgery in nothing but a cosmetic operation to
look good. They say it is not a life saving operation but a selective one. >>
Daphne,
Whoever said that about Medicare is not telling the complete truth.
It is true that Medicare doesn’t pay much for the surgery, but Medicare never
pays much for ANYTHING!!
I had this surgery in April. I’m on Medicare. They use to approve 3 of these
surgeries per month, per physician.
Now, I’m told it has decreased to one per month.
That is sad for physicians that take Medicare patients.
You should call Medicare yourself &
find out first hand whether they will approve you or not.
dee
April 20th, 2005 at 3:32 am
<< I am looking for a surgeon to perform the Gastric Bypass Surgery on me.
My problem it seems, is having Medicare. I have gone to approx. 6 doctors
here in South
Florida and none will take Medicare. They say that Medicare won’t pay them
because the Gastric Bypass Surgery in nothing but a cosmetic operation to
look good. They say it is not a life saving operation but a selective one. >>
Daphne,
Whoever said that about Medicare is not telling the complete truth.
It is true that Medicare doesn’t pay much for the surgery, but Medicare never
pays much for ANYTHING!!
I had this surgery in April. I’m on Medicare. They use to approve 3 of these
surgeries per month, per physician.
Now, I’m told it has decreased to one per month.
That is sad for physicians that take Medicare patients.
You should call Medicare yourself &
find out first hand whether they will approve you or not.
dee