Question:
WHERE TO TURN FOR HELP?
I have a over 60 friend that is so in need of this surgery but her Insurance want cover it... Her doc said she could have it... what does she need to do as they can not afford this kind of money 20,000 it takes to have this done Can anyone guide me to help her? Thanks Flo — Flo (posted on March 8, 2006)
March 8, 2006
I was a self-pay as well. I went to European Surgery for mine and it was
lots cheaper than 20k. Feel free to email me if you want more info and
they have a bank they work with for funding...if needed....
— Katpts
March 8, 2006
If she cant work vocational rehab might pay. Are you CERTAIN insurance
wouldnt pay?
— bob-haller
March 8, 2006
Her husband is on Dialesses and is not in good health Her doc did say that
he could say the surgery was nessary but that her insurance would not cover
the most of it... I am not sure of the whole outlook of this with her But
I do know she would need other means to pay as they are of the poor side of
the tracks.. medicare is what she has... and she has had a stroke and is
Diabetic and has lots of Issues with her health I am not familure with but
I do know it takes her a good 5 minutes to get up out of a straight back
chair ... she has to rock to get up... she has bad knees also... she really
needs the surgery bad But I dont know how to help her or where to guide
her... She is in Kentucky same as Myself.... Thanks for both of your help
... I appreciate it... Im not much good on the insurance end of this as I
had disability and mine was nessary due to my cancer and medicaid paid mine
in FULL. thanks
— Flo
March 8, 2006
Medicare will pay if the surgery is done in a ASBS Center of Excellence and
it it is deemed medically necessary because of comorbidities
— sratliff
March 8, 2006
Medicare will pay if the surgery is done in a ASBS Center of Excellence and
it it is deemed medically necessary because of comorbidities
— sratliff
March 9, 2006
If your friend has Medicare she must plan to have surgery at a center for
excellance facility or Medicare will NOT pay for it under any condition.
Your friend sounds very sick, maybe they feel she is too high a surgical
risk. Gastric bypass may save her life, but if she's too sick to survive
the surgery what help would it be. Unfortunately many morbidly obese
people are too sick to even survive the surgery. The anesthesieologist has
the final word on who has surgery, because if they don't feel they can keep
you alive during surgery they will decline the case and honestly nobody
would want surgery without any anesthesia. Anesthesia is very difficult to
control for a morbidly obese person. Maybe your friend needs to research
which hospitals and surgeons Medicare will approve of and then try to get
approved for surgery that way. Good Luck
— goldroses
March 9, 2006
Florinda, While I was researching on obesityhelp.com I found an out of
U.S. dr. who will do the surgery, including plane fare, hotel stay etc. for
$14,000. You can also take a companion with you and they will put them up
with you at the hotel etc. the companion just needs to pay his/her own
plane fare. They have loan applications also for those who can not pay
cash. I can try to find the information again for you if you like. You
can email me at [email protected]
I think also Mexico has a very good hospital and good doctors that do this
kind of surgery. Also, maybe she could try medicaid. She will find a way.
— dande41
March 10, 2006
Yes Im certain they want pay but if he says its life or whatever nessary
then they will pay part but we are speaking of poor class not able to come
up with any amount of money and does good to get her husband to the doctor
an hour away 3 times a week... she needs the surgery badly... she has no
control of her eating.... I know Iv been there done that and then all the
meds shes on is not helping her either...
— Flo
March 10, 2006
What is this center for excelence center? how do I locate this and we have
only one doctor that performs this surgery here....
— Flo
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