IamMama

Are there any of you out there!!?? :help: My name is Rebecca. I am a proud mother of three ages 4, 2 and 5 months. I've been overweight since I was a child. With the birth of my son this past August came the realization that being healthy is more important now than ever. I am currently in the process of getting all of my paperwork to the surgeons office.... once my "packet" is complete - they will set me up with appointments for the nutritionist, psych exam, and then schedule surgery. I've hit a bump in the road, though. I recieved a call yesterday from the surgeons office saying that BCBS will require me to have 5 years worth of doctors notes showing supervised weight-loss attempts. I have notes from 1999 showing a prescription for Xenical and advise to diet/exercise. I think I can get a hold of records from 2002 from a bariatric center I went to. I also saw a nutritionist in 2003. But that's all I can think of. Supervised??? I can't tell you how many doctors I tried to discuss my weight with....and was told to "just diet and exercise." Why would I turn to those same people to "supervise" me tackle the biggest challenge of my life?? What was perhaps even more discouraging was that the woman I was speaking with was anything but helpful. I truly believed that the Surgeons office would help with this part of the process.....that they cared. Maybe I was just naive. I'm wondering.... could those of you who were approved with the same requirement talk to me more about the definetion of "supervised weight loss?" How specific must these records be? The receptionist at the doctors office was anything but helpful when I asked for mroe details.

Hello out there. My name is Rebecca and I am in the early stages of getting the Lap Band. I sent all my paperwork in and got a call from the office saying that my packet was incomplete.....I need 5 years of doctor documented and supervised weight loss attempts. This is very discouraging to me as I moved so much during my life...OH, NY, CT, RI, and three cities in NC. I have been pregnant for the past four years. My weight loss attempts are scattered about time and states. I don't know where to begin calling for records....who has tried to help me and who has given me the whole "just diet and exercise" bit. I'm feeling like I should give up the insurance battle and begin planning on getting a loan for self-pay. It's so discouraging to think of more debt....but I really want this...I really NEED this. If you're a self-payer....can you talk to me about the steps you took??

Bad food/fitness choices as well as my genes... I would have chosen emotional eating, as well....I tend to feed my emotions.

Hi there.... I have BCBS of GA, as well. I wondered if you've received any information on them since posting here? I started the process for getting banded and sent all the paperwork to my surgeons office....I got a call from the lady who handles insurance who told me that she knows BCBS will ask for 5 years of physician documented weightloss attempts. This seems unreal to me... I feel totally overwhelmed now. I've moves so much over the past 10 years I can't remember where I've gone and who said what about my weight....I've gone to so many diet centers I don't know who to call and who has records, etc. Let me know if you've gotten anywhere in the process thus far with BCBS-GA... I'd really be interested in keeping up with your approval process as well...maybe we can help each other through it.