Kristy5567

I'm with you Donna... Take a look at my history (my signature), I'm at 3.5cc's and I'm experiencing some restriction, but hardly any weight loss, and I'm eating very healthy, walking, and everything else I am supposed to do!!! If anyone has any input, it would be appreciated! Kristy

I HAVE BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD FEP THROUGH THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, AND I LIVE IN MICHIGAN!

IT NEVER HURTS TO TRY!!! THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN IS THEY CAN DENY YOUR CLAIM!!! TRY, AND TRY AGAIN!!!! GOOD LUCK!!! KRISTY

You are going to want itemized billing and detailed surgical reports, they will most likely be in Spanish, but the insurance companies have translators... It will detail what medication you were given when, how much was charged for it, and so on and so forth... Good luck to you! Kristy

OCC doesn't have anything to do with your insurance, other than to give YOU your surgery reports and itemized bills, if you need them. You can call him and ask for them, email him, or you can wait and ask while you are there... I have no idea how long it would take their office to get these things around, as I had them mailed to me.... Good luck to you! Kristy

I did the international form... Good luck! Kristy

GOOD FOR YOU ANGELAV!!!! EVERYONE SHOULD TRY SUBMITTING IF THEY HAVE INSURANCE, IT CAN'T HURT! I'LL KEEP PRAYING FOR ALL OF THE REST WHO ARE TRYING!!! Kristy

Dr. Kam in Ypsilanti Michigan is a really great Doctor... He charges $150 for a fill (done blindly, but he knows what he's doing), x-ray costs $70 or $75, and the initial visit cost $250 (I think), but my insurance covered the first visit, even before they paid for the surgery! give their office a call... they are wonderful... Another suggestion is to go to www.obesityhelp.com, click on find a bariatric surgeon in the upper left corner, click your state, and start calling, that's what I did!!! Good luck to all! Kristy

I think it took me about a week to two weeks... My forms were mailed to me via USPS... Good luck to you, let me know if there is anything else I can help with! Kristy

That is such a wonderful story!!! I'm glad to help anyone who needs it! It just pays to try, and insurance companies sometimes need to be pushed! I did NOT have to have a psych evaluation, or a referral (although both my regular dr and my diabetic dr both knew I was having it done, and encouraged me)... I have BCBS/FEP, and didn't even bother to check with them before I had it done, but heard afterward that they started covering the surgery as of January 07, so I just tried! And that is what everyone who has insurance should do! Good luck to all! Kristy

That is such a wonderful story!!! I'm glad to help anyone who needs it! It just pays to try, and insurance companies sometimes need to be pushed! I did NOT have to have a psych evaluation, or a referral (although both my regular dr and my diabetic dr both knew I was having it done, and encouraged me)... I have BCBS/FEP, and didn't even bother to check with them before I had it done, but heard afterward that they started covering the surgery as of January 07, so I just tried! And that is what everyone who has insurance should do! Good luck to all! Kristy

Just call the OCC, ask for Rene, and let him know what you need... They faxed the first set of documents to me, and my insurance company kicked it back for more information... OCC ended up mailing me the rest of the documents... I'm not sure as far as any exclusions from the insurance company! Now, I only wish they covered the fills... LOL Wishful thinking... Good luck to all! I'll be thinking of and praying for you all! Kristy

The only problem I had/have is that I am juvenile diabetic... I did have some high cholesterol and my dr put me on lipitor, but that was for about 3-4 months, and I am no longer on any other medications other than insulin... Like I've said, it can't hurt to try! Good luck and I will be praying for everyone! Kristy

I DID NOT HAVE ANY PRE AUTHORIZATION, PRE APPROVAL, NO COUNSELING, ETC., ETC... I DO NOT THINK THIS WILL RUIN YOUR CHANCES AT ALL! I THINK THE OCC WAS QUITE HELPFUL IN SENDING THE RIGHT DOCUMENTS AND THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE STARTING TO REALIZE HOW MUCH MONEY THEY COULD SAVE OVER TIME IF WE WERE HEALTHIER PEOPLE!!! I WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU, BUT JUST STAY POSITIVE! KRISTY

I am a juvenile diabetic, 22 years plus, I wear an insulin pump... I had also recently had high cholesterol, which my diabetic doctor had put me on lipitor... But that was about it... BCBS/FEP didn't ask for anything for pre-approval... I went and had the surgery figuring I'd have to pay for it (which I did to begin with)... I sent in the receipt (ask OCC for an itemized bill)... They sent it back wanting more detailed information, I called OCC, they sent quite a few forms to me that were in spanish, so I didn't understand what all they said, but I sent them into BCBS, and it took about a month and a half to two months to receive the check... Good luck to you and anyone else in trying to recover the cost of surgery... Kristy

Well, first of all they asked for a more itemized bill... so, Rene sent me that.... That was when BCBS sent it back to me asking for more detailed reports (such as what medication I was given, how much I was given, times, cost of each medication, etc...)... I don't know if BCBS PPO would do the same, but the way I looked at it was why not try! Just call OCC and ask them for a detailed bill of the charges you paid, and whatever other information they are able to give you... then on the back of your insurance card it should tell you how to submit a claim or through your insurance's website... And thanks again to everyone, and good luck to everyone too!!!! And don't ever give up the fight!!!

I just wanted to let anyone out there who is in the same boat I was... I was/am so tired of being overweight, so back in January and February I started doing more research on the internet on LapBand Surgery... I had researched it several times over the past few years, but didn't want to jump through all of the hoops to get insurance coverage... I scheduled and had the surgery done on 3/8/07 at the OCC... It was the best decision I ever made... When I got home and did some more reading on the subjet, I decided to submit the bill to my insurance (the worst they could do was deny me).... I sent it in, and they kicked it back to me for more information... I called and talked to Rene, and he told me they have everything the insurance company would need, but in Spanish... I called my insurance company (BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD FEP) and they said no problem since they have interpreters... Well, I just called BCBS FEP today and was told that they issued me a check in the amount of $7850 (the other $650 was my co-insurance)... THANK YOU SO MUCH RENE AND EVERYONE AT OCC!!!! And to anyone out there who had surgery or is scheduled to have surgery and you have insurance, it doesn't hurt to try!!!

I went to www.obesityhelp.com, in the top left corner there's a link find a: bariatric surgeon, click on this link, then click on your state, and start calling the drs in your area.... This is how I found myself a local fill dr, and I've had wonderful luck with their office... I've had fills with fluro, I've had fills without fluro, their nutritionist comes in and talks to me almost everytime, and they are reasonably priced (I pay $150 a fill)... Good luck to everyone in their search for local fill drs and in the journey to weight loss... Kristy

Again, answering the question YOU posed to the forum... even after the liquid phase is over, you will have NO restriction in your band... Good luck to you in your weight loss journey...

Judy, Contact your doctor and ask for a scrip of liquid Lortab... I recently had some severe pain and an injury when I fell, and my doctor gave me the liquid lortab... It doesn't taste good, but it helps the pain... Good luck.... Kristy

There should be no restriction what-so-ever in your band at 4 weeks, unless Dr. Ortiz or a fill Dr. of your choice has filled you at all... You are on liquids to help in the healing process so that the band doesn't slip or have any other problems that are possible... I thought I felt restriction at that point also, but it's not really... Even after my first fill, I was scared to drink too fast and careful about what I would eat (which we should always do anyway), but I didn't even feel restriction until my 3rd fill (I choose to be filled locally rather than to take time off from work to return to TJ)... Good luck to you!

try going to www.kayak.com, play with the plug-in information for a bit, I live in Michigan, so I try Detroit, Chicago, and even the smaller closer cities to my home.... You can have it check nearby airports also in your search, or 3 days before or after your trip, so you can see when it's cheaper to fly... It was cheaper when I went to fly out of one of the smaller cities closer to me than it was to go to Detroit or Chicago... Good luck to all! Kristy

I found information for different doctors at www.obesityhelp.com, look at the top left corner, and click on find bariatric surgeon, then on the next page, click on the state you would like to look in, and a list of doctors comes up, I started calling all of them, and comparing the number or surgeries and other information available and found one that I really like! Good luck in finding a fill dr near you! Kristy

WOW!!! You can definately see the difference... You look great! I wish we had set up some way to meet while I was there last weekend... I found it difficult being in Cancun, with too many liquid calories, and I can only imagine not having the support system! Keep up the wonderful job you've been doing! Get that other 40lbs. gone, and you could join in the Miss Universe contest in Cancun on Memorial weekend! LOL

I know that the video is not for some people, but I thought it was a great way for me to be informed about what would be done to my body. I was so tired, and/or doped up, I don't remember much about the morning of surgery, in fact, I don't remember much about that whole day, except sleeping and I know I made a few phone calls... LOL It helped to ease my mind and prepare me for the experience without having to have them take the time to explain it to me, although they would have, and some things were very explained. Good luck to all out there in bandster land... Kristy