Aetna...What did you do to get approved?

[Scarlett72 13]

1. General practitioner weight loss appointment 1 x every month for 5 months. Never gained but showed a loss. Dr had me on phentermine for 3 of the months so I wouldn't gain during this time period. Btw this was a new Dr that I had just obtained last October so no two year weight history was necessary.

2. Nutritionist 1 x every month for 3 months.

3. Psych doc approval. Already had been seeing him for 1 1/2 yr. So only 1 visit was necessary.

4. 1 overnight sleep test to establish sleep apnea.

+ Established knee problems

+ Meds for bi-polar cause weight gain. Make me extra hungry!

I was approved in 4 days after paper work submitted.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

[gigito2 52]

I have a question about this: is this a 1 pound weight gain over-all; or any 1# weight gain at any time during the trial?

In other words, say I started at 100# and ended up at 99#, but during 1 month I went up to 101# - would this be a disqualifier? Or is the net loss at 99# the magic number? Hope I have made myself clear....

Correct. It is a 3 month or six month program depending on doctor. Mine was 3 months.

I finished the three month supervised diet, unfortunately I gained one pound. Would this little gain get me denied ?

[kjsweigart 15]

It is the net amount. I gained in middle but ended up 1 lb under. Approved no problem.

[khaled 23]

It is the net amount. I gained in middle but ended up 1 lb under. Approved no problem.

That's good. In my last visit, I lost a couple of pounds.

I was submitted on Tuesday morning.

[gigito2 52]

Thanks for clearing that up, kjsweigart; and much luck to you, Khaled.

[khaled 23]

I was approved in less than 24 hours !!

[gigito2 52]

Congratulations!!!

[nurseforlapband 11]

I just submitted my paperwork for approval on 7/9 and waiting anxiously for approval. I had 4 visits with my surgeon, 1 nutrition eval, and 1 psych eval along with other tests and labs. Did anybody else get approved with 4 surgeon visits and 1 nutrition eval? I'm starting to get worried because I see most people had 3 visits with nutritionist.

[Joymarie333 41]

I just submitted my paperwork for approval on 7/9 and waiting anxiously for approval. I had 4 visits with my surgeon, 1 nutrition eval, and 1 psych eval along with other tests and labs. Did anybody else get approved with 4 surgeon visits and 1 nutrition eval? I'm starting to get worried because I see most people had 3 visits with nutritionist.

I had 4 Nut Visits but don't worry, they might have put it down for u. Is the office your with well known?

[nurseforlapband 11]

Approved today! 4 visits with surgeon, 1 psych eval, 1 nutrition eval and labs and tests ordered by surgeon

[acyum2008 55]

I also have Aetna through my employer and I have one last NUT visit before they will submit my auth request. Was it hard for you to get your approval I am a little nervous about being denied. I have an extremely high BMI of 48. I weigh 258 and I am only 5 ft even, but I don't have any comorbidities. Please let me know. I am getting anxious and I am so ready to get this surgery done.

[dede0314 356]

I actually just got my approval today... I've been fighting with Aetna since February trying to get approved. I gained 9 pounds during my supervised nut visits so I got denIed. I just won the external review. I think as long as you don't gain weight during the process and do everything they require you should be okay.

Edited September 8, 2015 by dede0314

[cube68 70]

I actually just got my approval today... I've been fighting with Aetna since February trying to get approved. I gained 9 pounds during my supervised nut visits so I got denIed. I just won the external review. I think as long as you don't gain weight during the process and do everything they require you should be okay.

That part about not gaining weight is a little crazy, we wouldn't be here if we could just stop gaining weight on our own.... just saying... my wife and I were both approved, and were sleeved last December. At our last weigh in prior to approval, she was 10 lbs up from where she started, we had both been on that rollercoaster all our lives. A quick trip to GNC for a 7 day cleanse did the trick! We are both down over 100lbs now, and living much healthier lives!!! FYI if this happens to you, don't let Aetna hold your past against you!

[Puddles 23]

Question – I saw my surgeon the beginning of July, but could not see the NUT until the end of August. The 90 day program outlined by Aetna – does anyone know if that is 90 days from seeing the NUT, or is it from when the process began with doc?

[gigito2 52]

Puddles - it's from the time you start your doctor supervised program, so for you, from July forward. Good Luck!