Ginger2120

When I first started the approval process for my lap-band with Aetna they were denying sayting that they do not cover the Lap-Band under any circumstances. When I finally got approved they said it was because I was an "exception" to the rule because of specific medical conditions I have. My advive to anyone fighting with Aetna is to keep on them. Eventually they will fold and approve you, it just takes time. I went through a lot of frustration with them but now I'm finally going to be banded in September 22, 2003 and I can't wait! Good Luck!

I finally got insurance approval, and I've got all my testing done, except the psyc evaluation. My surgeon only uses one psychiatrist and big surprise she doens't participate with my insurance. I have to pay $300 for the two visits with her, and I have to take some test that is supposed to tell everyone how I will react to having surgery and losing weight. I guess what upsets me is that I dont' believe some stupid test is going to tell anyone what I will be like when I lose weight. And who decides what the right reaction is! What if the test comes back and someone doesn't like the results, does that mean I don't get to have surgery? I'm just frustratated and I want to tell them that I already have enough things to cry about and I don't need there stupid evaluation added on. Thanks for listening to me rant.

I think my biggest worry is that I'll wake up from surgery again and have my surgeon tell me that something went wrong and they weren't able to complete the procedure. I remember when I came out of my last surgery and I still had the tube in my throat when my surgeon told me they weren't able to do the bypass because I had an intestional malrotation. I am so scared that something like that will happen again, but what are the chances of that happening twice? Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate you taking the time to listen to my fears and offering help. This website is a great "friend" to people with the band or concidering the band. And as a personal note to Alexandra, this board wouldn't be the same without you! You always take the time to respond to people and make them feel at ease to ask any questions and know that someone will give them a response without judging them. Your awesome!

I finally got approved! I am so excited! As soon as I see the psychiatrist then I can schedule surgery! Aetna made an exception in my case because of my crazy intestines! Right now the soonest I will be able to have surgery is September 22! I'm so excited I can't hardly stand it! :D

I'm giving Aetna the "stink eye" smiley for you! They are such jerks! I'm pulling for you though. Last week I sent my paperwork into the state of Michigan for an external review, so with the backwards intestines and exception debacle I'm sure the surgery will be approved. Lets just hope Aetna can come to an agreement on yours soon. Let us know what happens!

I have a scar from my breastbone down to my belly button and my surgeon said it shouldn't be a problem. She said the surgery might take a little bit longer because of scar tissue, but that it won't stop me from being able to have the surgery done.

Hi, I am also from Michigan. I am still pre-band, but things are looking good with my insurance approval My surgeon is in Troy and she's great!

I have a silly question...I've been having dreams latley that after my surgery I would be able to feel the band in my chest and I was going crazy because I could not get it out! I guess it's just the though of putting something foreign in my body that's freaking me out a little bit.

I guess what makes me so optomistic is that in August of 2002 I went to the Bariatric Treatment to have a gastric bypass. Aetna approved me for that in less than a month! What the surgeons found out when they opened me up was that I have an abnormal rotation (basically my small intestine is backwards) in my small intestine so the part they need to bypass wasn't long enough, so they closed me back up and said sorry, there's nothing we can do for you. So when I get this last letter from Aetna with there exception written on there I got really excited because I am a MAJOR exception to the rule! Only one out of like 4 million people have backwards intestines. I'll keep you posted on what happens and hopefully be posting a surgery date within the next few months.

I did take your advice about the state department of insurance, and I am finalizing my paperwork to send to them today. I also received my final denial letter from Aetna, and the good news is that in there letter, they totally contradicted themselves! There was a section that said under no circumstances was the Lap-Band approved, but in another spot on the same letter they said that it was approved in individual cases where the patient could not have the gastric bypass. So I'm including that letter with my other information for the state. I'm very optomistic that I will be approved and banded before Christmas :banana