Mari01

I still have one month of required weight management left but all my clearances are finished. I have the "nutritional evaluation" this week, so I hope I hear something about getting a date! Are you having your surgery in St Bernadine or Parkview?

My insurance changed! I started my journey November 2018, with a consult with my (then) surgeon at Riverside Medical Clinic. With my (then) insurance, Anthem Blue Cross ***, I only needed 3 month (12 continuous classes) supervised nutrition/weight classes. As of now, I finished 10 out of my 12 classes. Last week I found out my insurance changed to Anthem BC PPO and they now require me to go to a Dignity Health Facility to be covered 100%. Well okay... I call my nearest Dignity Health bariatric surgery center to find out more. I was told at Western Bariatric (St. Bernadine -- San Bernardino, CA) that I needed 6 months of classes and basically restart my journey. I started to bawl my eyes out! I'm 25 (November birthday) and I'm getting real close to end of my insurance coverage under my parents. When I had started my journey, I was hoping to have my surgery by March or April. So, I'm worried about having my surgery before my cut off. Anyway, I sucked it up and started making calls. I attended their Seminar, where we filled out new patient packets and made copies of our insurances. The next step is to wait for a call to schedule my consult with their surgeon. I was told that the consult would count as 1 of the 6 months of weight classes. Does anyone believe they will accept my 3 months of classes Ive already taken? (and maybe only need 3 more months to meet the 6mo requirement?) Will they consider the original surgeon consult from November 2018 too (as part of the 6 months wight management?) I'm honestly hoping that Western Bariatric will consider my start (Nov.) to my current (Feb.) for a total of 4 out of the 6 required months. I didnt want to be set further back, but ill take whatever they'll take and Im hoping for the best! Can anyone can give me some insight? Similar situations? Anyone go to Western Bariatric? I'm really anxious.

Hi! I'm brand new too. I know your post is a little old, but I'm also having my surgery through Western Bariatrics! I went to the seminar last night! Could you tell me about your process? Any advice?

Hi everyone, I have just entered the world of WLS. I first visited my primary doctor (10/2018) and asked about WLS. He then referred me to a surgeon within the same clinic. I visited the surgeon (11/2018) to discuss WLS options and steps it takes to have surgery: 1- Referral to "Lighten Up Program" which is 3 or 6 month weight management program (I am required to do 3 months for insurance BCBS) 2- After completion of the program Health Ed will fax documents of program to their office 3- Authorization for physiological eval 4- Psychological Eval 5- Primary Physician Clearance (cardiac and pulmonary clearance if required) 6- Schedule an appointment with Physician to discuss procedure 7- Authorization for surgery and Approval from insurance I am one month into the weight program. Already lost 9lbs (too much?) My question is, do I have to schedule my evaluations or will I be contacted? Any tips? How long will everything take? Stats: 25 years old, 5'1 HW: 271, 50 BMI CW: 258, 48.7 BMI GW: 150