Dr. Kirshenbaum and UHC

You have got to be kidding! Dr. Kirshenbaum will not accept UHC! I am floored.

Doctors do not have to participate with any insurance carriers they choose not to. So if he feels he does not want to participate with UHC that is totally his choice.

Well obviously!! @@ Poor choice. I went elsewhere, which was good based on other things I've heard.

Dr K is a WONDERFUL resource for those that have to self pay.. Lap Band in the US for under 10K is the best deal you will find. There are many doctors that will take various insurance so good luck to you.

the reason he does not accept insurance is because he only charges $9,500.00 where other physicians charge $13,000.00-as much as $19,000.00. I guess sometimes insurance companies make it so hard for us to have surgeries that will benefit us and change our lives and physicians have a hard time dealing with them. However there are some physicians who will accept insurance payment maybe Dr K can refer you to one.
Good luck

Dr. K is the best out there! He doesn't take insurances because he wants to keep his prices affordable for people who do not have WLS coverage! IF it wasn't for Dr. Kirshenbaum, I wouldn't have a Lap Band and I wouldn't be on my way to good health! Every other doctor out there charged $17K or $23K. I paid cash and wouldn't have had the money to pay that!
It's not easy to deal with insurance companies. Doctor's do not always get paid properly AFTER they have done the procedure! I'd say IF you have insurance that will cover the Band, use it and good luck!
As far as I am concerned and 100's of other Band patients who have been blessed with Dr. Kirshenbaum -- feel he is a God send!

I agree with Tied....I was headed to Mexico for surgery...here in Alaska it would've been around $30K (and that's without pre-op appointments, aftercare, and fills!). Through LBT I was able to find Dr. K. I've worked in heathcare for half my life and was very pleased with his bed-side manner, his QUICK responses to calls, and how thorough he was. We had a TERRIFIC phone consult and I was totally at ease making the trip down.

To note, I had no problems getting Dr. K to write a little letter of medical necessity. (This might help with insurance paying for it, if you primary care provider has already documented the pre-qualifying issues then the letter is all you really need if your insurance pays for it - mine didn't.) BUT this letter is good to have for tax reasons, especially if you've spent so much on medications, travel expenses are covered for this too so you can get that deduction!

Besides, if I'd waited for insurance I would've been kicking my butt! The money was worth it! Just wish I'd done it sooner - and with an insurance provider that DID pay for it!