PRE-Op Lap Band Diet

[SumthinsGottaGive 35]

Just a quick question about the Pre-Op 3-6mth diet:

I was just reading in another forum where lots of insurance companies require you to go through that. It's not a big deal, as I was hoping to get banded late this year/early next year anyway, but I just wanted to know if there was anyone out there that didn't have to do the diet?

I spoke w/my insurance company and they told me because I had the best option, the only requirement was a diagnosis of morbid obesity ( ) and then they would cover everything 100%. I'm asking because I'm not at that point just yet. I've only just scheduled my seminar and chosen my surgeon.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[Allison0927 329]

i didn't have any supervised diet either - i have UHC and it took me 3 months from attending seminar to banding -my surgery was last week. You can get it done within that time frame as long as you schedule your appts as soon as possible - best of luck to you!!!

[TheBandedPeach 3]

I didn't have any diet requirements except the 5 day clear liquid fast right before the actual surgery. I was on Medicaid at the time.

[SumthinsGottaGive 35]

i didn't have any supervised diet either - i have UHC and it took me 3 months from attending seminar to banding -my surgery was last week. You can get it done within that time frame as long as you schedule your appts as soon as possible - best of luck to you!!!

I have UHC as well, through my job, and they told me I had the best option, so I was thinking maybe I wouldn't have to go through all of that. I'm glad to see that someone else w/UHC didn't have to do that.

Thanks!!

[LB4Me 35]

I have UHC as well. They wanted a 5-year record of weight, but no requirement for weight loss. In fact, that was their only requirement as long as you use a Center of Excellence surgeon.

[lfreshwater 1]

I have UHC through my husband work and they are requiring a 6 month diet....for those who have UHC where are you livingand does location have something to do with it

[itskellyraye 0]

It wasn't required for my insurance (Tricare) but it is required for my surgeon that I do the high Protein, low carb diet for 2 weeks prior because it helps to shrink your liver which makes it easier to do the surgery laparoscopically. It all depends on your surgeons preferences but I think there's less risk if you diet before.

[SumthinsGottaGive 35]

It wasn't required for my insurance (Tricare) but it is required for my surgeon that I do the high Protein, low carb diet for 2 weeks prior because it helps to shrink your liver which makes it easier to do the surgery laparoscopically. It all depends on your surgeons preferences but I think there's less risk if you diet before.

Yea..I think I'll def have to do the diet before (according to the surgeons requirements) but that's better than having to do it for 6mths.

[Acadia 20]

Because I had been tracking my activity, food intake, etc. every day for years I had records and was exempt from the requirements. So, just in case it's required in your case, start logging your weight every day, your food intake every day, your activity every day - and use something like The Daily Plate and/or FitBit so you have a true record so you can prove you've been doing this. Plus it will help prepare you for life after surgery.

Something else to note - while your insurance may not require it some employers have an additional clause where THEY require you do certain things before you're allowed to proceed through the insurance process. My employer required additional counseling AND they would have required a 6-month diet and exercise plan and weekly counseling at my expense, and if I didn't have all my records and didn't put up a fuss about this being a last minute request that was never mentioned to the insurance company (I had already done everything my insurance company needed, psych counseling, etc. and the employer stepped in literally at the last second), I would have just been having my surgery now, instead of having had it in January.

[MelindaH 3]

My insurance, BCBS Standard, Government Wide requires three months of nutritional counseling, two years proof of obesity, a statement of weight loss attempts that you have made for the last year previous to your first bariatric surgery consult. The surgeon requires at least one week of a clear liquid diet for at least seven days prior to surgery. The difference in insurance plans is vast and wide. Oh, the procedure has to be pre-authorized.

[Allison0927 329]

I have UHC through my husband work and they are requiring a 6 month diet....for those who have UHC where are you livingand does location have something to do with it

My understanding is that whether there is a 6 month supervised diet for UHC plans goes by EMPLOYER - employers have different plans.

[Colee85 1]

I didn't have to do the supervised diet! I have Carefirst VA...my insurance rep. at the surgeons office lit up like a christmas tree when I told her that. They are one of the easier companies to deal with.

[OKCurt 0]

Basically it comes down to your insurance company. There are different requirements. Some only require you to be X amount overweight while others require supervised diet counseling. The pre op diet to shirink the liver is a different issue and most are required to follow that for a couple weeks pre surgery. Some insurance also require an overnight stay while others only cover outpatient. It all depends. In my case, I did not need 6 month diet counseling. I just needed to be 100lbs overweight with a co-morbidity like hypertension. I was required to stay in the hospital over night.