Flex Choice Questions

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone.

I'm new here and I'm having a hard time searching past posts. I just

changed my insurance to Kaiser FLexible Choice Option which uses the

PHCS network of providers. Essentially we can select any provider

within the Kaiser or PHCS networks. The approval process goes through

Health International. Has anyone ever heard of them? Whose system

governs the approval process - Kaiser or Health International? Will I

have to do the 6 months with a Kaiser nutritionist when my primary doc

and surgeon are both outside of Kaiser and in the PHCS network. I keep

getting different answers to this question! Please help.

Thanks Amari

[Guest guest]

I believe that it goes with Kaiser. I'm no expert on Kaiser they drive me nuts sometimes but I know if you use doctors and surgeon out of the Kaiser and go with PHCS it will cost more.amari_oshun wrote: Hi everyone.I'm new here and I'm having a hard time searching past posts. I just changed my insurance to Kaiser FLexible Choice Option which uses the PHCS network of providers. Essentially we can select any provider within the Kaiser or PHCS networks. The approval process goes through Health International. Has anyone ever heard of them? Whose system governs the approval process - Kaiser or Health International? Will I have to do the 6 months with a Kaiser nutritionist when my primary doc and surgeon are both outside of Kaiser and in the PHCS network. I keep getting different answers to this question! Please help. Thanks Amari

Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much Tracie! I am willing to pay more to get a surgeon with more experience. I just don't want to wait 6 more months. What exactly is the rationale for the 6 month diet and 10% weight loss?

Amari

-------------- Original message --------------

I believe that it goes with Kaiser. I'm no expert on Kaiser they drive me nuts sometimes but I know if you use doctors and surgeon out of the Kaiser and go with PHCS it will cost more.amari_oshun wrote: Hi everyone.I'm new here and I'm having a hard time searching past posts. I just changed my insurance to Kaiser FLexible Choice Option which uses the PHCS network of providers. Essentially we can select any provider within the Kaiser or PHCS networks. The approval process goes through Health International. Has anyone ever heard of them? Whose system governs the approval process - Kaiser or Health International? Will I have to do the 6 months with a Kaiser nutritionist when my primary doc and surgeon are both outside of Kaiser and in the PHCS network. I keep getting different answers to this question! Please help. Thanks Amari

Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page

[Guest guest]

,

It is incredibly frustrating that you could go through all that, not be able to loose that 1lb (but of course you will!) and not be able to proceed. Its true for all of us - we can loose the weight. That has never been the problem. The problem is gaining it back! The problem is that our bodies and metabolisms have been rewired. Obesity is a disease not a choice. I recently wrote a brochure on nutrition and exercise. It is not that I don't know this information. Being required to meet with a nutritionist is insulting. If I had breast cancer would they make me meet with a hairstylist before begining chemotherapy. (ok that may be a stretch..) It is just infuriating. But of course they hold the keys - I will jump through whatever hoop they put before me to save my life. You know with the money they will save in the treatment for obesity related disease you'd think they'd be recruiting their patients into wls instead of hindering. Ok - I've finished ranting - at least it is not excluded outright. I am grateful for that.

Thanks for listening to me vent.

Amari

-------------- Original message --------------

Amari,

You know I really don't understand that either. I've been dieting for years I can loose some weight but it just comes right back. As for all of the classes I've surfed the web enough that I know most of what they are telling me. As of last week it was my last official visit but I need to loose one more pound then they will turn in all of my information and records to the board to decide if I'm really going to get the surgery. I can't believe they make you go through this whole thing then they might so no for one reason or the other. I did ask my nutrionist what the percentage of yes' there were and he said about 90%. I guess that's pretty good and he said if they say no that then they tell you what needs to be done.

I went to disney this year with my child and I would have loved to go and keep up with them with out my feet hurting or getting tired. All I really want is to be able to enjoy LIFE. And I'm really hoping that they say yes to me having the surgery. I go to see the nutrionist Wednesday the 20th and if I've lost that one pound he'll turn in my information to the board they meet on August 2nd and my nutrisionist said I should know if I'm approved by August 16th. I can't wait!!!!!

Thanks for listening,

AmariSokoya@... wrote:

Thank you so much Tracie! I am willing to pay more to get a surgeon with more experience. I just don't want to wait 6 more months. What exactly is the rationale for the 6 month diet and 10% weight loss?

Amari

-------------- Original message --------------

I believe that it goes with Kaiser. I'm no expert on Kaiser they drive me nuts sometimes but I know if you use doctors and surgeon out of the Kaiser and go with PHCS it will cost more.amari_oshun wrote: Hi everyone.I'm new here and I'm having a hard time searching past posts. I just changed my insurance to Kaiser FLexible Choice Option which uses the PHCS network of providers. Essentially we can select any provider within the Kaiser or PHCS networks. The approval process goes through Health International. Has anyone ever heard of them? Whose system governs the approval process - Kaiser or Health International? Will I have to do the 6 months with a Kaiser nutritionist when my primary doc and surgeon are both outside of Kaiser and in the PHCS network. I keep getting different answers to this question! Please help. Thanks Amari

Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

,

It is incredibly frustrating that you could go through all that, not be able to loose that 1lb (but of course you will!) and not be able to proceed. Its true for all of us - we can loose the weight. That has never been the problem. The problem is gaining it back! The problem is that our bodies and metabolisms have been rewired. Obesity is a disease not a choice. I recently wrote a brochure on nutrition and exercise. It is not that I don't know this information. Being required to meet with a nutritionist is insulting. If I had breast cancer would they make me meet with a hairstylist before begining chemotherapy. (ok that may be a stretch..) It is just infuriating. But of course they hold the keys - I will jump through whatever hoop they put before me to save my life. You know with the money they will save in the treatment for obesity related disease you'd think they'd be recruiting their patients into wls instead of hindering. Ok - I've finished ranting - at least it is not excluded outright. I am grateful for that.

Thanks for listening to me vent.

Amari

-------------- Original message --------------

Amari,

You know I really don't understand that either. I've been dieting for years I can loose some weight but it just comes right back. As for all of the classes I've surfed the web enough that I know most of what they are telling me. As of last week it was my last official visit but I need to loose one more pound then they will turn in all of my information and records to the board to decide if I'm really going to get the surgery. I can't believe they make you go through this whole thing then they might so no for one reason or the other. I did ask my nutrionist what the percentage of yes' there were and he said about 90%. I guess that's pretty good and he said if they say no that then they tell you what needs to be done.

I went to disney this year with my child and I would have loved to go and keep up with them with out my feet hurting or getting tired. All I really want is to be able to enjoy LIFE. And I'm really hoping that they say yes to me having the surgery. I go to see the nutrionist Wednesday the 20th and if I've lost that one pound he'll turn in my information to the board they meet on August 2nd and my nutrisionist said I should know if I'm approved by August 16th. I can't wait!!!!!

Thanks for listening,

AmariSokoya@... wrote:

Thank you so much Tracie! I am willing to pay more to get a surgeon with more experience. I just don't want to wait 6 more months. What exactly is the rationale for the 6 month diet and 10% weight loss?

Amari

-------------- Original message --------------

I believe that it goes with Kaiser. I'm no expert on Kaiser they drive me nuts sometimes but I know if you use doctors and surgeon out of the Kaiser and go with PHCS it will cost more.amari_oshun wrote: Hi everyone.I'm new here and I'm having a hard time searching past posts. I just changed my insurance to Kaiser FLexible Choice Option which uses the PHCS network of providers. Essentially we can select any provider within the Kaiser or PHCS networks. The approval process goes through Health International. Has anyone ever heard of them? Whose system governs the approval process - Kaiser or Health International? Will I have to do the 6 months with a Kaiser nutritionist when my primary doc and surgeon are both outside of Kaiser and in the PHCS network. I keep getting different answers to this question! Please help. Thanks Amari

Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page

__________________________________________________