Jackie100

Hi, How are you doing? Scheduled for surgery on 8/9/2010 with Dr. Kuhn.

Hi, Have you been sleeved? I am praying that you are well. Pls keep in touch. Jackie

Hi MommytoEthan, OMG!! Too exciting.. I am very happy for you.. I am now awaiting approval. Was submitted to Insurance on 6/3. Pls keep in touch.. I will look you up to see how you are doing.. You will be in my prayers.. Write to me anytime.. I have not been sleeved yet but I am praye warrior and Be truly blessed. Jackie

Hi, Please tell me what your surgeon had to ask to be approved by Aetna.. the girl at my surgeons office keeps telling me she knows Aetna will deny me without a psych evaluation. I did one yesterday.. I hope I get approved.. I have seen a nutritionist and my pcp has written a letter of medical necessity. Thank you.

I thought you all may want to see the infor below.. Insurance Company to Cover Newer Method of Bariatric Surgery by Kerri Seidler on April 21, 2010 ? Comments | Weight Loss Surgery Aetna, one of the nations largest health insurers, revised its policy on obesity surgery this month to include open and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy among its covered bariatric procedures. The sleeve gastrectomy procedure, often referred to as the gastric sleeve, is a newer method of bariatric surgery that is gaining in popularity as a treatment for morbid obesity. The gastric sleeve promotes weight loss by reducing the size of the stomach to help patients eat less and feel full faster. It appeals to many patients as it does not require a medical implant or need adjustments like laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and does not require cutting and rerouting the small intestine like the gastric bypass procedures. Prior to the policy change, Aetna considered the sleeve gastrectomy ?investigational? and did not cover the surgery. As of 4/9/2010, Aetna revised its Clinical Policy Bulletin for Obesity Surgery and stated that the ?sleeve gastrectomy is considered medically necessary when criteria are met.? The policy now reads: Aetna considers open or laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), open or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, open or laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) with or without duodenal switch (DS), or laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB) medically necessary when the selection criteria listed below are met. Although the sleeve gastrectomy is included under bariatric procedures, coverage for obesity surgery is still dependent on benefit plan details and approval by Aetna. Aetna?s decision follows in the footsteps of United Healthcare, another healthcare giant, which began covering the procedure in October 2009. In response to the Aetna and United Healthcare change in policy, The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) issued a press release announcing its support. In the statement, John W. Baker, MD, FACS, President of ASMBS, said ?We are pleased that Aetna and United Healthcare now includes sleeve gastrectomy among its covered bariatric procedures?Sleeve gastrectomy has now reached that threshold where the data and our experience with the procedure supports its safe and effective use in people affected by the chronic disease of morbid obesity.? The ASMBS, which is the largest organization for bariatric surgeons in the world, is a non-profit group committed to educating medical professionals, patients, and the general public to the various effects, risks, and benefits of bariatric surgery. The decision of Aetna and United Healthcare to cover gastric sleeve will benefits patients who are morbidly obese and considering weight loss surgery. While weight loss surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity, it should not be considered a ?one size fits all? approach. As the best surgical intervention for obesity can vary from patient to patient, insurers who cover a wider range of options will better allow surgeons to treat patients on a more personal basis.

Yes. Definitely interested. Let me know..

Lori, I am so happy for you!! I am still waiting for my surgery date.. Saw the nutritionist yeserday. I have a psych eval next Wednesday.. I hope to join you on the "approved" bench soon.. Congratulations!!

****************** Zephra, Hi, I am practically your neighbor.. I live near Wylie..

Hi, I am practically your neighbor.. I live near Wylie..

Hi TxSam I live in the Garland area.. Too far to get togethe for exercise but we can talk and/or meet. Let me know if you want to chat with me.. I am yet to be sleeved so would love to draw on yur experience.

I am a sleever to be. I am in the Dallas Metroplex area. Anyone in my area? I would love a buddy/Mentor.. I am going through the pre-op, pre-authorization stuff.. Have a nutritionist's appt this week.. My band has slipped 3 times.. so it is going to be removed as I sleeve. My Dr. in in Baylor - Downtown Dallas. Do you all have blogs that I can read? Thanks. I look forward to meeting you one day..

Thanks for response. I will follow your progress. Still waiting for a surgery date. Be blessed!

I am 214 today and hope to lose 70. Has anyone lost just that or do you continue losing? I am afraid to get sleeved and lose like 100 or more.. Is that possible? Pls answer!!!

Thank you for the infor, Morgandobes. Very useful.

Good luck with that. Pls keep me informed with that. You are in my prayers.

Aetna is now covering Sleeve surgery. Have you gone back to them? I consulted 2 weeks ago with my Dr. Want band removed and revised to sleeve. They told me Aetna just started covering it. I am waiting for approval but they want me to see a nutritionist at least 3 times before they put the request through. Having had an unsuccessful band should be pre-approval enough, I think!

Thank you Frankie. I am going for my psych eval on 4/30. Just because my ins demands it.. I should be on my way in about 4 weeks if everything goes according to plan. Thanks again, I will be coming back toyou with questions..

Got any black pants? 14-18W. I am a 18W but know will soon go down.

Chanciie Need some 18w. Maybe soon I will want 16w. If you still got them, pls share.. :thumbup1: thanks.. Jackie

Do you still have the 18W. I really need those.. Thanks. Jackie

Hi Frankie, Congratulations on your 4 week mark! You seem to be doing great and I am so happy for you. I notice you weighed about the same as I do now. I am 5'2" so look bigger coz I am real short. I am 52 yrs old so in the same age group as you. I am considiering the sleeve surgery but is afraid to lose too much. I would like to lose about 60-70 lbs. I previously had the band and it never worked for me. I did not lost weight on it. Why did you choose the sleeve surgery? My doctor is recommending it for me. He wanted me to do Gastric Bypass but I absolutely will not do that. What do you think?