WorkItOutWoman

It means that I am a bullshitter and there will come a time when I will need some straight no chaser words of wisdom from time to time.

Wow you will be fine. I am so happy for you. Mine is the following Monday and I am nervous but excited and did I mention nervous?

Wow straight no chaser. I am looking for a sponsor are you available?

Woohoo. The first day of the rest of your life.

Lol Lol thanks for the early translation I was just about to google 54 calorie ice block. Giggles @ creative phrasing for Popsicles.

The horror stories are scary but motivational. The horror stories for me are the people who eat fried chicken "without the skin" two weeks after surgery and wonder why they aren't losing. I am going to work my first six months like a full time job.

Good luck to you too Sleeve Sister

I have preop visit this Thursday and my confirmed surgery date is scheduled for 3/18/2013. It feels so surreal. I have purchased nothing for surgery and I am freaking out. Hopefully I will get a list of items to purchase this Thursday.

My deductible is 1,500 and insurance pays 100 percent after that. I just learned today that mI also have health reimbursement arrangement HRA so I pay the first 500 and they pay the 1,000

Well I submitted yesterday and just got an email from my coordinator that I am approved today. They want to schedule me for 3/18/2013. Whoa. I think i am in shock!

I am hoping to have my surgery done soon. Completed the last 6 month office visit 2/18. My coordinator will hopefully submit for insurance review by the end of the week.

Yeah!

BariatrIc surgery is big business. The coordinator of mine is on no hurry to return my calls or talk to me about next steps.

I am in downtown Denver. There are a lot of lean people in Colorado.

Any news? My last pcp visit is tomorrow and I am feeling anxious

Yay an ex-weight watcher worker. I have a question that is only mildly off topic. I have to show a two year BMI of 40+. My problem is that I did not have insurance but I did go to weight watchers. Will they send me a copy of my weigh ins with the date included to prove my BMI? I called 3 weeks ago and the person on the phone 800# said she would mail my weigh in reports but so far nothing. I am thinking she didnt know what she was talking about because I have not received any documentation. Any advise you can give would be appreciated. Thanks!

i applaud you for coming on and sharing your story. I admit to thinking life was going to be so much easier once I got the sleeve. Hearing your story I know that I will have to be vigilent even after my restriction. I wont be submitted for insurance until Feb. but your post has certainly given me food for thought. Yikes!

Highmark BCBS did not cover VSG for bmi under 50. I just looked at the policy again tonight and low and behold it has been updated as of 10/1/2012. They do cover VSG with BMI 40 or highter and 35 or higher with co-morbidities. Great news! Upon further reading for VSG they want 24 months of contemporaneous (consecutive???) bmi of 40 proven thorugh clinic visits. Unfortunately for me I have not been to the doctor in over 3 years due to not having medical insurance. Does anyone know of a way around this requirement?

Thanks so much for this info. I have only just begun my WLS journey. I too have Highmark BCBS and while reading my policy saw that VSG was only covered with a BMI over 50. One hour of internet research later and I stumbled across this site and your appeal letter! Thanks so much I was very discouraged but now I am hopeful. I had my first consult with the surgeon two weeks ago and my first (6 months preop visit with doctor) 9/21/2012. I am hopeful again and now have a template to follow once I get the denial six months from now. Thanks so much!

Hi I am hoping someone can me with direction how to go around the insurance requirement of having a BMI greater than 50 to qualify for VSG. My insurance will cover Gastric bypass for those with BMI 40. I initially called the 800 number for my insurance 4 months ago and was told that they cover VSG hurrahhhh! But after going over the policy myself I found the true BMI requirements for VSG. I did research and thought the VSG would be the best choice for me. The full gastric bypass scares me and I don't think I can handle the added complications that come with RNY. The thought of "dumping" syndrome gives me hives. Can anyone give me any advice? I am 5'5 and currently weigh 264. Thanks!

Thanks for the quick reply! I brought up the BMI requirement for my surgery and he assured me that did not sound right to him. I read back through the policy and was still reading VSG creaed as stand alone surgery or in conjunction with Gastric Bypass with super obese patients BMI greater than 50. I spoke with the coordinator and she called my insurance company and congratulated me on being eagle eyed. She started talking to me about the gastric bypass. Sigh...I want the sleeve. She told me they will not pay for it so I have to go another route. I am headed out to look at your link now. Thanks again.