jalivia2

So...I finished jumping through hoops for insurance on Friday, and my dr's office submitted me for approval today. I'm told that this approval process can take up to 2 weeks. I'm so nervous and scared of denial, even though I know that I have no real reason to be. What did you do to occupy your time until your approval came?

I live in West Houston near Katy. My file should be submitted to insurance for approval this coming week. I'm hoping for a surgery date in late mid April or early May.

Congratulations!

I'm not sure if I will be banded in April or May. I have my last nutritionist visit on 3/19. After that, I will just be waiting on insurance approval. Wish me luck...and good luck to all of you!

Congrats! I'm excited but scared of a denial too!

My surgeon suggested buying the peanut butter that has flax seed in it. I'm not to that stage yet, but apparently it works well too.

My surgeon requires this for Day 2 post op. Day 1 post op is 1 oz per hour. Anyway, I just plan on buying a measured container from Walmart and making enough to last all day.

Those comments are absolutely disgusting. Just one more reminder of how ignorant and insensitive some people can be. Kudos to Rex Ryan and ESPN for going public with the story.

Congratulations!!!

I have BCBS of TX and will be required to stay overnight too. I'm happy about it if only because I have a lap dog at home, and it's probably good that I'm not around her on the day when I will probably be at my worst.

Sure! Just let me know when you're coming into town! :thumbup:

Hi SBeth - I go to my last nut visit on 3/19, then the final wait for insurance approval begins. I'm in Houston and could use a weight loss buddy too!

Sometimes it has more to do with your insurance. My insurance company covers WLS but not the initial consultation. They do, however, have some kind of scale of what a reasonable charge for that service should be. I was charged $235 for the initial consultation, then the doctors office submitted the bill to my insurance company. BCBS of TX determined that $180 was the reasonable cost for the service, and that's all they would allow them to charge me, so I had a $55 credit on my account that I applied against what I had to pay to have my EGD done.

I will be on a liquid diet for 5 days. My doc says the length of time you are on the liquid diet is directly related to the amount of fat around your liver.

I have BCBS of TX too and live in the Houston area. So far, I have only needed to have 3 nutritionist visits and a psych evaluation. I have 2 nutritionist visits left before everything is submitted for approval. Hopefully, I will be approved. I have a BMI of almost 42 with no co-morbidities.

I have the psychological testing and two more nutritionist visits left. Thanks for the encouragement!

Hi Shelly - my consult sounds like it was pretty much the same as Maggies, except that they had already verified my benefits with BCBS. Along with the packet of info for psych visits, bloodwork, etc they included a breakdown of what I should expect to pay for the entire process.

I just went for my initial consultation on Monday 1/11, but would like to join the group as well!

I'm not a 1/11 bandster, but I do go in for my initial consultation tomorrow! Good luck to everyone!

I mentioned to a friend that I begin the LAP-BAND® approval process in January, and she tried to talk me out of it and tell me that gastric bypass is so much better. I like the idea of a less evasive surgery and more gradual weight loss. What are everyone else's thoughts on this?

I am considering Dr. Alanis. Lady Zique, do you still feel that way about him. Should I ask about fills in the consultation?

Houston, TX here. First consultation on 1/11/10. I'm both scared and excited.