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I'm still in shock. I am 23 years old, have a BMI of 36 and am on medication for high cholesterol and GERD. I was worried that insurance wouldn't approve me because I do not have a BMI of 40.

My first appointment ever with the surgeon was on June 18th. I found out I was approved this past Wednesday, and I am still in shock! I first saw the surgeon, in June and got my list of "to dos". I did the barium swallow, EKG and sleep study all by mid July. Then I saw the nutritionist twice, and she cleared me! Lastly I saw the psychiatrist at the beginning of August who cleared me as well. I saw the nutritionist once again for an education appointment, and met with the surgeon to review all of my test results. He told me last Tuesday I was cleared and that we would be submitting to insurance. They submitted this past Tuesday and I called Tufts on Wednesday (one day later) to make sure they received my paperwork for them to already tell me I was approved!!!!!!! I am ecstatic! I will be having my surgery in October I believe. I call tomorrow to book my date!!! I am over the moon excited! PS: for those who have Tufts, they no longer require the 6 month I can change program..they just require surgery be "medically necessary"

Hi there! So..I started seeing the surgeon back in June. I am 23 years old, and have a BMI of 36. I am on medication for high cholesterol and GERD. I have tufts. I was extremely nervous about being approved because I heard they make you do a 6 month I can change diet program before surgery. This is no longer the case. They just want it proven that it's medically necessary for you to have the surgery. They submitted my paperwork to Tufts this past Tuesday. I called Wednesday just to check and make sure they received it and they said yes..you're approved for gastric bypass. It took ONE day! I am over the moon excited. I'm speaking to the office tomorrow to book my date..most likely October. Attend all your appointments!! Good luck!

23, totally cleared just waiting on insurance!

Hi everyone. My name is Annie. I see Dr. McCluney in Brockton @ Good Sam. I am in the process of getting approved for RNY. I have one more appointment with the nutritionist on August 12th before she can clear me and I meet with a psychiatrist on August 7th for clearance. I have Tufts but thankfully they no longer require you to go through the I Can Change program which is 6 months. I am super nervous about approval because my BMI is a 37 but I am on medication for high cholesterol and GERD, and I also have PCOS. So far I really like Dr. McCluney.

I hope so! Thank you. Good luck as well! So exciting. What a long road..the rep said their feedback for the I Can Change program was that customers didn't like it. What did you think of it?

I just called again to verify and the rep from Tufts said there are no longer any specific requirements, they just need proof it is medically necessary. I am sure I will be absolutely fine then since I have a few issues directly related to weight.

Yes, I called as well. It is no longer a requirement for sure. Everyone I've spoken to was approved while it was, so I am lost! Lol! I just want to know what the approval process is like now without it.

I have GERD and a hiatal hernia which I'm on medication for, on medication for high cholesterol, I have PCOS and I'm being tested for sleep apnea. My BMI is 35.5. Praying I'll be approved. I'm also 23 years old.

They actually eliminated the I can change program as of January of this year. So I am trying to hear from someone who's been approved since then! That is so exciting for you..congratulations. My surgeon was the one who told me they got rid of that program.

Hi! Has anyone with a BMI under 40 with other issues been approved by tufts? What did they require you to do for approval? What was your BMI and comorbidities?

Thank you for your input! Did you have any issues with RNY? Complications?

Hmm..they are aware of my GERD and still said its ok. It's a very low severity of GERD that I just started taking medication for. I basically was getting heartburn once a week so they put me on meds. I did read the chances of GERD worsening with the sleeve are likely.

Hi everyone. I'm a 23 year old female. I weigh 221 pounds. I also am on medication for high cholesterol and GERD. I have met with the surgeon and initially thought I FOR SURE wanted the gastric sleeve surgery. I am now leaning towards gastric bypass after meeting someone who was my age and my size when she had gastric bypass and she had excellent long-term results. I am really torn and obviously need to make a decision before my surgeon submits everything to insurance. Thoughts?

I had to have the barium swallow because I have acid reflux..they said they do it for everyone though to get an accurate view of the path of your systems because that's important regarding this surgery