Anyone approved w/o 6-12mo documented weight loss attempts by DR?

Poodles · November 8, 2005

Was just wondering if anyone had been approved by their insurance company without a consecutive diet trail. Will letters of "recommendation" from your doctors work? I have dieted for YEARS, just don't have it written in a chart every month.

If you were approved, how did you do it?

Thanks!

aaamom · November 8, 2005

went in for my initial consult Feb 22. Had my surgery May 23rd. No paper trail for me. All smooth sailing. It wish it was as easy for everyone else. No arguing with insurance companies, no appeals, etc

Good Luck

Anwyn · November 8, 2005

I have UHC also and I had to write down my weight loss attempts, but they didn't require any proof of participation. Good luck with your approval!

Clementine · November 8, 2005

Same here with UHC. No proof of dieting necessary. Three months from consult to surgery.

HeatherGurl · November 8, 2005

No proof of dieting for me. I have UHC also. Went in for consult on Oct. 14 and I am having surgery tomorrow!

gordonfamily3 · November 8, 2005

Well I am UHC person also and when I sent my package in to the dr he asked for a list of diets but that is all I ever gave him nothing else.

Alexandra · November 8, 2005

Obviously different carriers have different levels of required information. I had Aetna, and they did indeed have that 6-mo diet proof requirement. I satisfied it by having my doctor show that I'd sought help with my weight more than a year before, and that on every visit since then the subject of my weight had come up. It didn't start out as a formal attempt at creating a paper trail, but it showed a sincere attempt to deal with my weight issues as a medical condition. I ended up being diagnosed hypothyroid as a result of my initial visits, and at the end of the year I'd come to the conclusion that banding was a realistic option for me. (I'd not even heard of it when I first went to my doctor about my weight and the way I was feeling. I originally wanted to know if there were any new drugs I might take.)

Weight has been an issue for me my entire adult life, so any doctor's notes from any point will show some discussion/concern about my weight. It wasn't at all hard to show that it'd been on my agenda for six months.

Alexandra · November 8, 2005

Well I am UHC person also and when I sent my package in to the dr he asked for a list of diets but that is all I ever gave him nothing else.

That was probably for his own information. All bariatric surgeons want to be confident their patients aren't coming to them as a FIRST resort.

November 16, 2005

healthnet, they required proof of weight loss attempts but if you have been over weight the last five years just going to the doctor for a check up and they write down your weight. healthnet will take that.

Tess L · November 16, 2005

blue cross didn't ask for 6 months from me just a letter from my Dr.

took 2and 1/2 weeks and got approval surgery date DEC 8th

Poodles · November 17, 2005

I go to my PCP on Tuesday, for my second month of stuff. I am going to give them the medical records request then so that they can at least send two months of things. I sure hope things go smoothly from there. Really wanted to have this done over Christmas break, but don't think that will happen. I can always keep my hopes up though!

leatha_g · November 17, 2005

Cigna paid for mine, twice... I only had to list diet attempts and history, but no consecutive Dr Supervised info was required. Of course, each doc is different, each insurance co. is different and times have changed since I was banded.

BarbaraC · November 20, 2005

Remember each year the policies change. I know of one insurance company that did not require a 6 month diet last year but is requiring it in 2006.

IVANinNJ · November 20, 2005

I only had to outline all the diets and weight loss attempts and help I received. In my case I could approximate dates and methods over 25 years. I didn't need "real" documentation. I have QualCare.