AllForMy4

Thank you for that info!! My surgeon is Dr.Coates in Modesto!! I looked up Anthem Blue Cross's Medical Policy online and it says they cover the sleeve if you are an eligible candidate. Here's the link: http://www.anthem.com/ca/medicalpolicies/policies/mp_pw_a053317.htm It is listed in the first paragragh along with all the other types of WLS. It is listed as "Sleeve Gastrectomy" This may or may not be the info you need but DONT GIVE UP!! I would call your insurance directly and ask how you can view their medical policy online. They should be able to provide you with a link to your actual plan with them. And it is always better to see it in writing yourself rather than to be possibly told numerous things by different agents... Thank you so much for the advice about maybe having to be with them for a certain amount of time before the surgery is covered. That's a great question to ask my insurance lady when I go in tomorrow to possibly switch my plan!!! As far as Dr.Coates office having a contract with Anthem Blue Cross,I talked to about 4 ppl from their office yesterday that confirmed that Anthem Blue Cross does cover the sleeve with them,bc I kept calling back to make sure!! LOL. I would call Dr.Coates office and talk to them if you may still want to have the surgery done there. They are very helpful and have an awesome pre-authorization worker!! I'm sure if you give her your exact insurance info as far as what plan you are under with Anthem Blue Cross,she should be able to give you some valuable advice. Hope this helps-It would be awesome to go through this journey with someone local!!!

Oh wow! Good job on quitting smoking. Trying to get my husband to kick the habit. I smoked for 2 yrs back when I was like 18,then quit at 20 when I got pregs with my first. Congrats on your success,sounds awesome!!!

Omgosh how exciting!!!! Sounds like you did a great job researching and getting ready! Congrats on your success so far! Are u nervous at all??

That's the healthy diva look!!! Thank you so much and congrats again on your achievements!!

Wow thanks!!! Omgosh I bet you are so excited and nervous now that you have an actual date!! Good luck and congrats!!!

Thank you for that! You look awesome in your profile pic BTW!!!!

You are awesome!!! Thanks for your story,it gives me more motivation to take my butt to the seminar on Nov 10th! LOL I have been thinking about WLS since about Jan of 2010. Then I got pregs with twins before I could even get to my dr to talk about WLS! SO I gained 80 pounds with them (Carried them to full term) but then lost 50 after having them,then gained 35 back!!! They are 9 months old. Add on dieting on and off since I was 13 and finally finding out last month that I have high cholesterol,triglycerides and glucose and most likely sleep apnea,and I finally came to the decision that WLS is right for me. I didn't even know about the sleeve until I started researching WLS a bit more extensively and I found that many ppl were talking about their successes with it and the not as bad side effects or risks compared to the RNY and Band. Getting pregs with the twins and carrying them to term did a number on my body and it didn't help that I was already obese before. It is very hard to motivate myself to excerise for more than 10 minutes or so bc I get very winded and I am exhausted ALL the time!!

Thank you!! I actually got my insurance questions answered today by a couple ppl at my surgeon's office and also my insurance customer care..My surgeon's office said that it is VERY hard to get an approval for the VSG through Health Net and advised me to switch to my only other option at this time which is Anthem Blue Cross,so I am changing it on the 26th of this month!! Love your ticker BTW!!!

Thank you! Congrats on your weight loss so far!! I feel that the sleeve is right for me for the exact reason that it works the same as a regular stomach only smaller. My sis had a hernia after the RNY,had a horrible time with dumping,and 2 months later had to have her gallbladder removed after being rushed to the ER in severe pain!!! Also her hair started falling out bc she couldn't absorb the Vitamins right!!! Although she lost the weight and she is below goal now,it was very scary for everyone but I am trying to express to them that the VSG is not like the RNY at all really.

Thank you so much! I love this site already and love browsing the forums!

I know this was back in April but what about Dr.Coirin? He does the VSG as well and is in Modesto. Pretty much like Dr. Coates partner. He's in the same building out by Memorial. Hope this helps!