Jcp,
I started my lapband journey in Feb 2010. With your age and BMI....you totally qualify for the band! Here are the steps that I took to get me banded.....
1. called my insurance company to see if the band was covered
2. attended a seminar (Feb)
3. Nutrition consult, group talk with surgeon (Mar)
4. Psych eval (April)
That is all my surgeon needed....My insurance approved Apr 27.
I had a one on one consultation with the surgeon on May 19 and surgery is scheduled for June 7.
If you get a start on the process now, you might make it before your father loses his insurance. Also, after I attended the seminar, nurse in the office kept in touch with me the whole time as to what I needed to do and what I needed to give her.
Anyways.....start the ball rolling and call your insurance company. And research as much as you can about the band. I have researched for about 4 years and I am now ready!!! Good luck to you!!