laceymm888 9 Posted February 5, 2013 I go in for a seminar on Feb 11 and will hear back from a counselor to set up an appt after that to meet with the dr. I have a friend I work with that had lap band done a few years ago and he said he had to meet with a nutrition and exercise specialist for like 3 months before he got approval. But I saw on here someone else with aetna got approval in like 3 days! Does it not work the same with every plan? I'm anxious to see what the dr says and how long it takes to get approval. If you have aetna, what has your experience been like? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
goldiva 26 Posted February 5, 2013 Aetna is my insurance provider. Just to give you heads up on how it work with Aetna. There are steps that you must take before approval and the post that you saw about being approved after 3 days is referencing after you have met all the PRE requirements. I got approved after 8 days but I had steps to complete as required by Aetna. 1)seminar, 2)3 months with a nutritionist or 6 months supervised by my primary doctor 4) psychiatrist evaluation 4)blood test 5)gall bladder scan. Because I was deadset on having the surgery by the time I went to my seminar I already contacted Aetna just to make sure that I qualified.I did my initial consult with the surgeon I done with all the steps except the gall bladder scan. So my whole process from start to finish was about 90 days. Aetna is pretty quick with approving the surgery as long as everything is done. I forgot pay the deductible that was last, the hospital would dnot take the money until they date was scheduled. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
laceymm888 9 Posted February 5, 2013 Ah, thank you. Wish it wasn't that long but if I don't want to spend $10,000+ I guess I'll wait! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Takingcontrol 467 Posted February 5, 2013 I too have Aetna, all plans are different. I had to have 6 mo nutritional plan, submit 2 yrs of weight history from PCP, psych eval, & EGD. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn Morrison 71 Posted February 6, 2013 The wait isn't too bad. I am with Aetna and did the same stuff. It goes very quickly and if you do all the work you feel better and lose some weight in the process. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kcole1973 4 Posted February 7, 2013 I have Aetna as well. My VSG was on 12-31-2012 it only took 3 days for approval once I had completed all of the requirements that Aetna has. Your surgeon will guide you in what you have to complete to get insurance approval it does take some time but all in all it took me right at 4 months to complete everything and get my approval. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
almam 61 Posted February 15, 2013 I too have Aetna' date=' all plans are different. I had to have 6 mo nutritional plan, submit 2 yrs of weight history from PCP, psych eval, & EGD.[/quote'] I have aetna too. I did all the above except for the egd. Took about 1 month to get approved because I only had 1 yr of weight hx but I still was approved because I had several yrs prior to the 1 yr I skipped goin to the dr. highest weight 224#<br />sx weight 212# (11/20/12)<br />current weight 180#(2/8) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mark! 449 Posted February 16, 2013 I know it's been a while since thread was started, but just in case.. I have Aetna. 3 months nutritional classes, 2 years weight history, 1 comorbidity. No psych, no gall bladder test. Will still have to do the EGD since it's required for surgery, but nothing else. I was approved in about a week. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites