sassyfrass23

Well that is incredibly exciting! I just hate that I may meet my deductible at the end of 2015 and then have to start over in January if my surgery doesn't happen until 2016. But it's a price I'm willing to pay to be happier and healthier.

In November, I finish my 6 month of supervised weight loss attempt. I also have my first appointment with my surgeon, NUT and a 3 hour class which will be more detailed than the seminar I attended. I'm curious as to about how long I have after that, assuming insurance approves on the first attempt. I know I'll still need my psych eval, EGD and upper abdomen ultrasound. My patience, or the lack there of, is getting the best of me..

I too, am having to complete the 6 months (I complete it in November) of diet/exercise supervision. My insurance did not require a specific amount to lose. As a matter of fact, they didn't touch base on any certain numbers for weight. I meet with my surgeon for the first time in three weeks (I've been doing the 6 month program through my PCP). If my surgeon requires more weight loss, then I'm not sure what he'll expect. Good luck on your new journey!

@hollybower I've seen such convoluted information on this topic. A lot of it depends on your insurance and what they're looking for. Do you lose weight? Maintain? Make sure you don't gain? What happens if you go below your starting BMI and what if you drop below the required BM? I honestly have no idea what I'm doing myself. I've lost about 7 lbs which is still above my required BMI, but it's nerve wracking. Will the fact that I lost 7 lbs and have kept it off make my insurance company think I'm capable of doing it on my own? I surely hope not since that's like..1.1 lbs a month. Haha- not ideal for a successful weight loss program in my opinion. What insurance company do you have? So about this supervised diet, that is what I'm doing now. She didn't give me a specific diet just things to try and cut back on. Did you lose any weight? I'm scared to lose to much that would disqualify me for the surgery. Help!

I agree. I spoke with the insurance coordinator this afternoon when she called to schedule my appointment and she put me at more ease. She said she'd never heard of this stipulation before so she would be incredibly surprised if that was the true case. So, fingers crossed that it was all a mix up and she is correct!! My insurance requires the 6 month dreaded wait...but I have never heard of an additional wait! It is also my personal experience that the more you call and question, the more crazy answers you end up getting! I know it's crazy frustrating but just let your surgeons office handle it. My insurance requires the 6 month dreaded wait...but I have never heard of an additional wait! It is also my personal experience that the more you call and question, the more crazy answers you end up getting! I know it's crazy frustrating but just let your surgeons office handle it.

Sending up prayers for a smooth procedure and pain-free recovery to follow!

I so badly hope so Shelly! The thought of waiting an additional 6 months is really bothering me. But- for some reason, I have a gut feeling that insurance is wrong with the information they gave me. Or at least I pray they did. I have been doing my supervised weight loss with my PCP. I completed my online seminar and registration for my surgeons office this past weekend so they should be contacting me soon. I also included my insurance information, so I am hoping the insurance coordinator will have more reliable information for me!

Either way- you all made me a little more hopeful than what I was when posting this. I'm hoping that the insurance coordinator, as mentioned above, will be able to confirm this quickly. And hopefully prove that the insurance reps were all confused

I honestly don't foresee my authorization being an issue. However- I could be completely wrong. Insurance can be so difficult that I truly don't know what to expect. Although I've heard mostly good things about UHC. I just don't understand why insurance would approve you and then require you to wait 6 more months. It makes absolutely zero sense to me. Jangy- fingers crossed things fall into place for you! I can't imagine how nerve wracking that time line is for you :|

That's exactly what I though, SuperDave! But the way he read it was something like "authorization must be obtained 6 months prior to surgery." What? I hate insurance...