Changing Insurances Will I Have To Start Over?

[Krystyneh 55]

Hi everyone!!! So on 4/21 is my last nutritionist appointment and on 4/27 I have my first of 2 psychological evaluations. Now I have a question about insurance. Right now I'm currently on Vermont state health insurance and I already know that it covers lap band surgery. Now my husband just started a new job as an over the road truck driver last month. On July 1st I am covered under his insurance which I believe is Blue Cross Blue Shield. Does anyone know if I would have to redo EVERYTHING in order for them to cover my surgery? I hope not. I'm hoping to have my surgery before my insurance switches but I don't know how fast everything will go. Thanks

[NWgirl 574]

Only if they require specific things. I don't know if you're currently on a supervised diet, but that could be one of the stipulations. I would also check to see what the new insurance says about pre-existing conditions- I read on here once that a woman had to wait a year to get surgery after starting her new insurance because the obesity was considered pre-existing...

Can you see the benefits under the new plan? And are you sure they cover WLS or treatment of obesity?

[Krystyneh 55]

Well I looked and it said that for pre-qualifications u need a BMI of 40.0 which mine is 43.1 and need to have been overweight for at least the last 5 year which I've been overweight since age 12. I have been seeing a nutritionist for the last 6 months which is what my current insurance wanted me to do. I've done all the test and exams that my current insurance has asked for. I'm just nervous that they will make me wait which one big reason behind my decision for weight loss surgery is to help me lose weight so my PCOS gets better and I can get pregnant more easily. I'm 107 pounds away from goal weight of 160 pounds.

[NWgirl 574]

Are you on a 6 month supervised diet? I would imagine you would be getting banded prior to July (correct me if I'm wrong). I would wonder if you can get the new insurance to pay for maintenance? I wonder if you will need to apply to get the fills/maintenance when you switch?

[Krystyneh 55]

Yeah 4/21 is my last visit with my nutritionist. It's been supervised and I see him once a month and he documents everything. I don't have to worry about fills and maintenance afterwards because the place I'm going has a $250 Bariatric program fee and that pays for all the fills and unfills for as long as u have the band. I'm praying I get it before July 1st

[Jess55 97]

You shouldn't need to redo things. My job changed our insurance like 3 months prior to my surgery. I had already done 3 months of the 6 months and all of my requirements. (EGD, chest rad, psych, etc) and had no problem with being approved.

[Krystyneh 55]

Jess55 - that makes me feel sooo much better lol I was so nervous. Which it I've already done the stuff then I figure that I shouldn't have to do it again ESPECIALLY since someone else paid for it and my new insurance wouldn't have to pay for all the testing again. I'm pushing to have surgery before July 1st so that way I don't have to deal with worrying about my new insurance