I am happy to report that Medicare paid for all but $1024 of my Lap Band surgery and my supplemental paid that. The total cost to me was $17 for the TV and phone.
I suggest that anyone who is considering Lap Band Surgery and who is eligible for Medicare check with
www.Beliteweight.com
JoAnne and the ladies there are great. I have Sleep Apnea, Reflux, arthritis, high blood pressure and I was over 100 pounds overweight with a BMI of 40. I had in hand reports from the Sleep Apnea Dr. and the Reflux Dr. and my GP all of which supported the need for intervention.
I was all set to go to Mexico, because there was a 2 year wait-list locally. Mexico did not scare me because I know too many people who have gone to Mexico for medical and dental work and have had nothing but good to say about it. BeLiteWeight also makes arrangements for Mexico in Tia Juana and I have met several people sho have gone there and were very happy with the experience.
Then I did one last search on the Internet using
Medicare Accepted Lap Band and up popped the BeLiteWeight.com site. I made a call and after a quick discussion, filled out their online medical form and faxed all my other paperwork to them and was scheduled for 2 weeks later. My surgery was done by Dr. Gazaerli (his picture is on the BeLiteWeight home page). I was told initially that I would have to pay the $1024, but when I talked to the coordinator at the hospital and gave her my supplemental insurance information, that was the end of that.
My surgery was on April 16th, 2008 at the Detroit Medical Center. So, the only out of pocket expense I had was airfare from Seattle to Detroit and back for my wife and me. We were met at the airport in Detroit and chauffered to the hotel. At the hotel I got a call from the psychiatrist (Dr. K.) who asked me a bunch of questions and was apparently happy with my answers. We spent the night at the hotel and I went in to the hospital the next day. Within hours of waking up, I was walking the halls and actually called into my support group which was meeting for the first time the night of my surgery. I spent the night of my surgery in the hospital and my wife was taken back to the hotel. the next day we were driven back to the hotel and spent the night there. We were taken to the airport by the driver, and that was that. Everything I have described except the flights was paid for as part of the package.
Everyone at the hospital was very professional and very courteous and the hospital was squeeky clean all over. That same day there were a total of 7 BeLiteWeight clients at DMC for surgery.
As for me, I never even took an aspirin. I had no pain at all, except for the gas and that passed naturally ];-}}
For self-pays, the rate at DMC is $11,700.
I asked Dr. Gazaerli when I was in the pre-op area how the DMC was able to do this at that price, and I got an astonishing answer "Because we are here to help people!"
One final comment, what do I do for my fills??? I just had my first fill yesterday. I had to drive 80 miles plus a 30 minute ferry ride each way to a small clinic in Arlington WA where I had the fill. The clinic is run by a nurse who has been banded. The clinic was recommended by BeLiteWeight and charged $125 which I assume is out of pocket. Future fills will be at another support group that meets about 60 miles from home on the 3rd Wednesday on alternate months (the May meeting was too early for the first fill.)
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at
howerton@wavecable.com to call please email me first.
Chuck Howerton in Sequim WA
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