[clfcarrie]

hello all you guys and gals out there.
I have a friend on disability in Colorado. She gets medicare/medicaid for her insurance she has lupus a crazy thyroid and just has been labeled with type 2 diabetes so they have thrown another med at her. Her weight has just been going up and up and up. Her Dr is making noise that she would be a good candidate for wls but doesn't follow up on anything. she is limited on the Dr she can go to.

So you may be asking just what is the question...here it is. Has anyone else been able to get wls using this type of insurance and what state and where did you start in finding out coverage limits and so on and so forth. I'd greatly appreciate the input. Ya'll are the best.

Thank you for all your suggestions it seems that the real issue is there are not many Dr around that will accept the medicaid for the surgery. and so the challenge is to find a surgeon that is economically feasible to get to.

[redshoes3377]

I live in Iowa and work with people on Medicaid that have been been able to get the surgery

[ShawnC]

I live in MI and have several friends that have medicare/medicaid that have had the surgey.... I knlw here they make you get a referal from your primary care doc to the wls clinic

[hippiechick72]

I live in Indiana and I have Anthem/Medicaid. I have to pay a premium each month and some out of pocket expenses. But the insurance is awesome. Ins. company sent me a packet of what I would have to do to qualify for surgery: 3mth wait, tests, etc. and who was in my plan. I have to travel 2hrs. away but oh well. Each state is different, hope she gets the help she needs, you are a good friend to help her

[KatV]

I live in Ny and am on disability. I had surgery paid for by Medicare. The biggest thing that they required was that I go to a Bariatric Center of Excellence. It meant travelling a little further but in the end I was glad to have been going to a better facility with a better surgeon anyway. I wish your friend good luck. It sounds like she really needs the surgery and even though each state is different, I would think if I got my surgery covered and I didn't have any coexisting conditions, that she with so many medical problems, would be covered for sure. It's easy to find out though. She (or you) can call Medicare or go online and do some research. I hope this helps!

[clfcarrie]

thank you all for you wonderful advice now I have a starting point for my research. I thought that is where I would have to go but to have it confirmed by you all is wonderful. God Bless all who replied

[MsVickie]

I live in VA and Medicaid will pay for it. Then Medicare comes and picks up the rest. I can tell you this much. Medicare will never give an approval before hand. I have dealt with that before with patients. What ever the first insurance company does they follow suit.

So yes they will. I think its a good idea myself. She surely will come out allot healthier on the other end of things.

[starting a new life]

I'm in North Carolina, and one of the ladies in my pre-op group had Medicaid and it paid for it. Your friend should be fine.

[clfcarrie]

Just to update! great news my friend found a surgeon that she really likes in Denver. so now she has to do the 6 months of NUT monitor and counseling and then she will be able to have the Surgery! Praise the Lord and thanks. Soon we will be welcoming her to the Loser's Bench!.

[dixieladybug]

Great news. I wish her the best.