Guest guest Posted May 16, 2001 Report Share Posted May 16, 2001 I live in Toledo, Ohio and need the surgery (5'9, 495pds) and cannot seem to find anyone who is willing to work with me. They say because I have medicare, it won't pay, never has, and pretty much such the door on me. They also say CASH will NOT do. Because of the possibility of subsequent visits to the hospital, they need to know insurance is there to handle the bill. I called a surgeon in Bowling Green, Dr, Hess and his secretary would not even let me attend the free seminar without know I had insurance to pay for the surgery. Anyone else know of any doctors in my area that does this surgery? Thanks, Mark Ferrante Farouk@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2001 Report Share Posted May 16, 2001 How about Dr. Maguire in Kettering, OH. He not only accepts self pays he has a set amount so you know what the bill will be in advance I am not sure but I think it is $16,000 dollars. If he is willing to limit what self pays pay maybe he will take medicaid. He is his office number is . Teri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2001 Report Share Posted May 16, 2001 Mark: Many surgeons will not consider doing the DS surgery on someone without insurance. But many will. Finding one who is physically convenient is another problem entirely, however. Go to www.duodenalswitch.com, click on surgeons and you will find a list of virtually all the surgeons who do the procedure. I know that Dr. Baltazar in Spain specifically will do the surgery on uninsured patients. And lots of others will as well. I'd suggest looking at the list, getting on the phone and figuring out what you can work out with which surgeons. I wish you the best luck. Joe Frost, old gentleman, not old fart San , TX, 60 years old Surgery 11/29/00 by Dr. Welker Lateral Gastrectomy with Duodenal Switch 340 starting weight, currently 240 http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Joe/joe.html Toledo, Ohio dilemma! > I live in Toledo, Ohio and need the surgery (5'9, 495pds) and cannot seem to > find anyone who is willing to work with me. They say because I have medicare, > it won't pay, never has, and pretty much such the door on me. They also say > CASH will NOT do. Because of the possibility of subsequent visits to the > hospital, they need to know insurance is there to handle the bill. I called a > surgeon in Bowling Green, Dr, Hess and his secretary would not even let me > attend the free seminar without know I had insurance to pay for the surgery. > > Anyone else know of any doctors in my area that does this surgery? > Thanks, > Mark Ferrante > Farouk@... > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2001 Report Share Posted May 16, 2001 Hi Mark; I am confused by your statement that Medicare won't pay. They are about the best of all at paying! When I had my initial consult with Dr. Welker, as soon as he heard that Medicare is my primary, he said, " Excellent! At least we don't need to wait for pre-approvial " In fact, Medicare pays within 3 days. Are you sure it isn't a case where the surgeon you went to will not accept Medicare? That happens unfortunately. Some doc's say they can't afford to accept Medicare because the reimbursement is so low. However, that's a little silly because Medicare reimburses something like $500 less than major insurers do. The fact of the matter is that doctors are CLEARLY not getting reimbursed what they are worth but to take it out on the patients, I think is unethical. Further, if you have a doctor giving you 'misinformation' regarding your insurance, I would question whether he's being straight forward on other issues as well. If you want to pose any further questions on one of the insurance lists, we will try our best to get you squared away and pointed in the right direction. Having Medicare might rule out a few surgeons but it doesn't mean you are out of luck. Good luck; I 'm routing for you! gobo 309/305/125 BMI 56 > I live in Toledo, Ohio and need the surgery (5'9, 495pds) and cannot seem to > find anyone who is willing to work with me. They say because I have medicare, > it won't pay, never has, and pretty much such the door on me. They also say > CASH will NOT do. Because of the possibility of subsequent visits to the > hospital, they need to know insurance is there to handle the bill. I called a > surgeon in Bowling Green, Dr, Hess and his secretary would not even let me > attend the free seminar without know I had insurance to pay for the surgery. > > Anyone else know of any doctors in my area that does this surgery? > Thanks, > Mark Ferrante > Farouk@a... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2001 Report Share Posted May 17, 2001 Kim at dr Maguires office told me the DS surgery is $35,000.00! Stefany Re: Toledo, Ohio dilemma! > How about Dr. Maguire in Kettering, OH. He not only accepts self pays > he has a set amount so you know what the bill will be in advance I am > not sure but I think it is $16,000 dollars. If he is willing to limit > what self pays pay maybe he will take medicaid. He is his > office number is . > > Teri > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2001 Report Share Posted May 17, 2001 Kim at dr Maguires office told me the DS surgery is $35,000.00! Stefany Re: Toledo, Ohio dilemma! > How about Dr. Maguire in Kettering, OH. He not only accepts self pays > he has a set amount so you know what the bill will be in advance I am > not sure but I think it is $16,000 dollars. If he is willing to limit > what self pays pay maybe he will take medicaid. He is his > office number is . > > Teri > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2001 Report Share Posted May 17, 2001 Kim at dr Maguires office told me the DS surgery is $35,000.00! Stefany Re: Toledo, Ohio dilemma! > How about Dr. Maguire in Kettering, OH. He not only accepts self pays > he has a set amount so you know what the bill will be in advance I am > not sure but I think it is $16,000 dollars. If he is willing to limit > what self pays pay maybe he will take medicaid. He is his > office number is . > > Teri > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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