nicegirlnw

Congradulations! I'm new here and have just started down this journey. Congrats on getting your surgery scheduled. Hopefully, I'll be having mine in the next couple of months as well.

Hey, I have regence as well. I am quite sure, unless you are under a different plan all together, that they currently cover the surgery as well. You have to make sure which plan your under for Regence. Currently, I believe it is only covered under the Traditional Plan. I know cause I have recently gone through the process of getting approved - and I was, in less than a week! I was considering this surgery for about a year and a half and switched my insurance so that I could be on the correct plan. Also, try and get your paperwork in soon. Currently they only require 5 years of being 100 lbs over weight. However, they plan to change this to a 1 year supervised diet requirement. Anyhow, goodluck! I'm a little scared of the surgery itself, but in the long run, I think this is right for me. I have about a 100 pounds to loose and I really do want to start on my journey. Although I am approved through insurance, I've had to go through so much hassle with multiple meetings with the nutritionist and the psychologist. They are definitely just trying to make money! It's annoying as hell...and you can't even do much cause you have to follow through with everything to get the surgery through my surgeon's office. Anyhow, I'm starting down this path. Thank you to everyone that is active on this site. For several months I've been reading and getting encouragement to take these steps. ~Nicegirlnw

I sort of went through something similar. I thought I would go through a certain doctor and center. However, I later found out that they were not in network for my insurance. I just called up my insurance which happens to be Blue Shield Regence. You ask them for names of Lap band surgeons and they should be able to provide you a list of possible doctors. I would try to go to lap band specializing center if that is possible. Since they are so familiar with the process of getting approval for surgery. Hope that helps :redface:.

Hi All, I just got my approval to have the surgery from my insurance. I'm excited, but equally as scared. Since the thought of someone cutting me...terrifies the hell out of me. We'll see how it goes. I really need to lose the weight. My BMI is 40, so I am happy to be making a positive step towards life long change. I'm really happy I found this form and might be able to connect with all of you!