Holding pattern
. I guess that is term that I would use to describe my
current situation. I started out the quest for surgery many months ago by
reading books, finding websites, and basically coming to the conclusion that
surgery was the only remaining hope for me to lose weight and keep it off.
I am with Aetna UShealthcare, which it seems is not a favorite amongst
physicians. But, I found a surgeon who came highly recommended and I set up
the initial consultation. I was told that I "might be the last patient that
we will accept from Aetna." So, I went through all the hoops necessary,
consisting of about 9 or so different tests, (and co-payments), so as to
qualify for Aetna and Dr. Barry S. Greene, before I could even get a date
set. Approval was pretty much a foregone conclusion, as I weighed in
digitally at 441. Pretty incredible for someone who used to think that I
was fat at 190! Anyway, got all the tests done, found out I was healthy
enough to undergo the surgery, got my PCP to write a recommendation and
history, and then found out that my chosen surgeon had chosen to drop Aetna
from their list of acceptable insurance companies. So, I was back to
square one, and had to start over finding a surgeon.
I found one in Virginia, which is where I work, and he also came very
highly praised and recommended via obesityhelp.com (thanks to someone’s
suggestion on this list). Dr. Osvaldo Anez and I met, and he is now
scheduling people for October surgery. However, I told him that I would be
willing to fill in on a stand-by basis, which could mean 24-hour notice
before my surgery. So, once I get the official nod from Aetna, I will be
waiting for the call to come. For those of you out there who are believers,
please pray that it happens quickly. It turns out that many of those tests
and results are only valid for three months, and some for only a month. I
don’t relish going through the whole battery of tests and CO-PAYMENTS again.
It is good to have this list and the people of common experiences to whom we
can go and have someone who truly understands and empathizes. Thanks for
listening and for taking the time to forage through this long e-mail. It
sometimes helps just to put it in writing.
Danny
March 1st, 2006 at 2:02 am
Holding pattern. I guess that is term that I would use to describe my
current situation. I started out the quest for surgery many months ago by
reading books, finding websites, and basically coming to the conclusion
that
surgery was the only remaining hope for me to lose weight and keep it off.
I am with Aetna UShealthcare, which it seems is not a favorite amongst
physicians. But, I found a surgeon who came highly recommended and I set
up
the initial consultation. I was told that I "might be the last patient
that
we will accept from Aetna." So, I went through all the hoops necessary,
consisting of about 9 or so different tests, (and co-payments), so as to
qualify for Aetna and Dr. Barry S. Greene, before I could even get a date
set. Approval was pretty much a foregone conclusion, as I weighed in
digitally at 441. Pretty incredible for someone who used to think that I
was fat at 190! Anyway, got all the tests done, found out I was healthy
enough to undergo the surgery, got my PCP to write a recommendation and
history, and then found out that my chosen surgeon had chosen to drop
Aetna
from their list of acceptable insurance companies. So, I was back to
square one, and had to start over finding a surgeon.
I found one in Virginia, which is where I work, and he also came very
highly praised and recommended via obesityhelp.com (thanks to someone’s
suggestion on this list). Dr. Osvaldo Anez and I met, and he is now
scheduling people for October surgery. However, I told him that I would
be
willing to fill in on a stand-by basis, which could mean 24-hour notice
before my surgery. So, once I get the official nod from Aetna, I will be
waiting for the call to come. For those of you out there who are
believers,
please pray that it happens quickly. It turns out that many of those
tests
and results are only valid for three months, and some for only a month.
I
don’t relish going through the whole battery of tests and CO-PAYMENTS
again.
It is good to have this list and the people of common experiences to whom
we
can go and have someone who truly understands and empathizes. Thanks for
listening and for taking the time to forage through this long e-mail. It
sometimes helps just to put it in writing.
Danny