My insurance didn't require a lot other than proving the band had failed. An upper GI showed mine had slipped. My surgeon required a visit with psych, nut, exercise physiologist and a bariatrician. The bariatrician was to get me on a diet plan to lose weight pre surgery. The whole process started September 22 and I was sleeved December 29. Insurance approval for removal took 7 days. Insurance approval for the sleeve took 2 weeks.