Waiting on approval

[Sharilo 6]

You definitely need to check with your surgeons office on what the exact requirements are. I have UnitedHealthCare and didn't have to lose any weight prior. I did have to do 6 months of weight management plus dietitian and pysch eval. Every insurance has different requirements. Another idea would be to call your insurance customer service and see if they can tell you all the requirements or even your human resources insurance/benefits coordinator. Good Luck!

Hi - I have BCBS of Florida. I did everything my surgeon's office told me to do and they submitted my paperwork - which was DENIED!!! I am so upset. I didn't know anything about the 6 month deal. Can you tell me what you did to satisfy that portion of the pre-approval process? Also, they force you to do the diet and nutrition thing for 6 months and will only approve if you fail to lose weight??? Is that correct? I started my pre-op diet to lose the required 20 lbs. and have lost 13 lbs. so far. My BMI is around 38 I think. They supposedly approve a BMI of 40+. My fear is that I will be successful on the supervised diet, only to be denied the lapband at the end - regardless of the inevitable which would gaining all of the weight back and then some. Any ideas? Anyone?

[Mocha-Berry 0]

I received my call today. I was approved, my surgery is scheduled for Sept. 22. So, hopefully I can have the surgery sooner if someone cancels.

[kmt1973 92]

Wow, CONGRATULATIONS! I'm still waiting o_0

I received my call today. I was approved, my surgery is scheduled for Sept. 22. So, hopefully I can have the surgery sooner if someone cancelled.

[Mocha-Berry 0]

@ kmt1973 Thx!!! Keep us posted!!!

[sloppy joe 8]

Hi - I have BCBS of Florida. I did everything my surgeon's office told me to do and they submitted my paperwork - which was DENIED!!! I am so upset. I didn't know anything about the 6 month deal. Can you tell me what you did to satisfy that portion of the pre-approval process? Also, they force you to do the diet and nutrition thing for 6 months and will only approve if you fail to lose weight??? Is that correct? I started my pre-op diet to lose the required 20 lbs. and have lost 13 lbs. so far. My BMI is around 38 I think. They supposedly approve a BMI of 40+. My fear is that I will be successful on the supervised diet, only to be denied the lapband at the end - regardless of the inevitable which would gaining all of the weight back and then some. Any ideas? Anyone?

I attended a lap band seminar today and someone mentioned that bcbs of Florida doesn't cover weight loss surgery. You might want to call them to verify and if that is the case it wouldn't matter if you complete the 6 month weight management with your pcp.

[kmt1973 92]

I was denied All bc when I went for my final visit it was on July 29th instead of August 1st and I have to go for 6 CONSECUTIVE months and I went twice in July. Once on July 1st and the last the 29th. RIDICULOUS! Well I went in August for my 2nd 6th month visit. Waiting on Approval once again. Tentative surgery date is still Sept 14th. So excited and nervous

[Mocha-Berry 0]

I read that the insurance company is really funny about that especially BC/BS of Alabama. Hopefully, everything should be okay now.

[soozyq67 0]

_{^{I am at this moment sitting at work waiting on insurance approval, through bcbs of alabama. I did the 6 month diet with my pcp, and all the other good stuff. Nothing more to do. I am so dreading the "NO, SORRY" phone call. Is anyone out there going through the same thing at this moment or been through it? Has anyone out there been rejected?}}

[soozyq67 0]

I too am waiting,but my paperwork only went in last week. I was told to forget about it for 3 weeks... easier said than done! Good luck everyone!

[Savannah26 26]

You definitely need to check with your surgeons office on what the exact requirements are. I have UnitedHealthCare and didn't have to lose any weight prior. I did have to do 6 months of weight management plus dietitian and pysch eval. Every insurance has different requirements. Another idea would be to call your insurance customer service and see if they can tell you all the requirements or even your human resources insurance/benefits coordinator. Good Luck!

Thanks - followed your advice. I think we have it down now. I am going to have my doctor's office call them as well just to make sure everything is documented as required. I have my last appointment on December 1st and praying I can be banded by year end so I don't have to meet the deductible again.

[Savannah26 26]

I attended a lap band seminar today and someone mentioned that bcbs of Florida doesn't cover weight loss surgery. You might want to call them to verify and if that is the case it wouldn't matter if you complete the 6 month weight management with your pcp.

Thanks - my plan actually does cover it, if medically necessary and you meet all of their requirements. I had them send me the policy (G24). I am working on the last thing - 6 consecutive months of doctor supervised diets. Praying that I will be approved afterwards! How are you doing?

[kmt1973 92]

UPDATE: I won't be getting my surgery till Feb. 2012. Insurance won't pay until I've had them a year. You know obesity is a pre-existing disease and duh, I've has this prior to getting my insurance. Oh well, the funny thing is, I'm ok with it. I've waited through the 6months dr visits, I can wait for this too.

[skintyprincess 12]

I faxed my final paperwork in yesterday!! YAY!! I'm so excited!! Although I have my own date in mind I can't wait to hear from them. Looks like I will be traveling on business when I start my pre-op liquid diet. That's going to be a challenge...say a prayer for me!