Medicaid

Hi,

My name is Kesia and I am 27 years old and thinking about getting the LAP-BAND®. I want to know if Medicaid will pay for it, because the numbers they sent through the mail. Every doctor office I called said they didn't accept Medicaid. I live in Georgia. Would I have to go out of state to find a doctor that accepts Medicaid? I have another question, I wanted to know would I have to get a second surgery for excess skin after I have the surgery for the LAP-BAND® system? Because, I weigh 318 pounds. And, I know that I can't afford to have a second surgery for excess skin.
Thanks:confused2:

Medicaid, as in Medical card? I have the medical card and my surgery, fills, every doctor visit is being paid for by them. Call the local big city hospital's and see if they do. There has to be somewhere. Also, if your worried about the skin, you most likely will have too at some point. But don't worry, they will pay for it too.


Hope this helps!! -Nikki<3

Some places they do take a medical card... it really depends on what kind of medical card u have... there are hmo's as well as ppo's... u just have to call the main number to find out what is covered... they cover pretty much everything that a regular insurance would cover and sometimes more... and if you start to walk or excercise you wont need any sugery for the skin removal... My highest weight was 327lbs and im like 280 now im not banded yet but i am excercising so as i loose the weight my skin is firming up as well... hope this helps..

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Banded 5/15/2008 Pre-filled band 3-cc's
2nd fill 6/12/2008 2-cc's
Highest-327lbs
Current-223lbs
My Goal is where ever i feel good at
http://mstrina-fromacaterpillartoabu....blogspot.com/

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You could call MEDICARE and ask if there was a facility/doctor near you that would take your insurance for that procedure. It would save you calling all over town -- just one call to them.

I have Medicare also and was worried that I wouldn't get approval. When I talked to my surgeon's office, they told me that they had ever only had 1 Medicare claim rejected.

Good luck to you!!

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Call your provider's customer service to see if they cover the procedure, and they can direct you to a doctor from there. Although Medicaid is a federal program, it should be the same from state to state, the plan you have under Medicaid may or may not cover it.

Medicaid is definitely different from state to state. I work at a hospital in Virginia and we can only see patients from Virginia and West Virginia. West Virginia is covered in Virginia because they have such limited options for medical care in parts of their state - many of them drive 6+ hours to see us. Otherwise, no other state's Medicaid program is accepted in our state. Additionally, there have been recent changes to Medicaid programs and many states are now contracting Medicaid benefits with regular HMO companies. (Medicare is different - that's generally what we all get when we're 65 and over. That works anywhere in the country.)

I do know that Medicaid even pays for Viagra, so I would be really disgusted if they didn't cover something like banding. I would do what someone advised above - call the number on your card and ask a) if bariatric surgery is covered and b) which providers in your state participate.

Good luck

My doctor is in Illinois and has never said one word about Medicaid not covering fills and they told me right up front the things it would not cover. Not sure if you are in Illinois or not. Good luck in your search.

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Teri
Surgery Date: November 11, 2008
Praise God! Obesity is behind me!



"Don't wait till the battle is over! Don't wait till the victory is won! Whatever God has promised, its yours and its already done! Shout now!"

Hey Kesia! I too live in Ga. and have medicaid. And MA does cover the LAP-BAND®. I rcvd my approval on Monday, but u have to go to a Center of Excellence, and you need to sign up with Peachstate as your carrier. The center I am using is Peachtree Surgical and Bariatric at Atlanta Medical Center. They have a seminar on June 21st. the website is peachtreebariatric .com . Check them out and if you have any other questions feel free to send me a private message.