6 or 7 months medically supervised diet?!

[lasmith0802 67]

Today is my last weigh in of my six-month medically supervised diet...or so I thought.

I called my surgeons office and told them that my last weigh-in was coming soon. They told me that the insurance likes to see you finish the program and weigh in one last time. Really!? If you say 6 months then it should be 6 months, not 7! Grrr

[Teapot 26]

Yes, I have heard this too. Your first weigh-in "doesn't count" since it's just the starting point and your second weigh in is the actual beginning of the six weigh-ins of being on the diet. Seems kinda silly doesn't it? I was also told that you have to make sure that each weigh in occurs in a different calendar month, so a weigh in May 1 and a weigh in May 31 would actually not count as a month apart because the insurance companies can't do math?

I'm just starting this process. Congratulations on being nearly there!

[Read2016 658]

I heard the weight at your consultation with the surgeon is the start... Who knows, this is a money making racket for doctors... Each time they weight you they charge your insurance.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[betterme38 275]

I had a 6 month weight loss for my ins also. What the woman did was count the 1st meeting with the surgeon as my 1st visit then the next time my visit with the nut was the actual 1st weight one. So it equals 7 visits and 6 weights or months. It's crazy just jump through there hoops and let them approve you my last one is a week from tomorrow!! I'm so ready to get this new journey started lol I plan on bugging ins too

☆Jeni☆

[rosestara 48]

I go in for my first visit with my surgeon next tuesday. I was really hoping that would count as my first visit. Now that I have read all this stuff, I know not to get my hopes up. My insurance also requires 6 months and they do specifically say 6 continuous months

[lasmith0802 67]

I met with my surgeon December 10 but also weighed in with my primary doctor in December. This is my sixth month of weighing in. I will jump through the hoops it will be worth it in the long run.

[lasmith0802 67]

I go in for my first visit with my surgeon next tuesday. I was really hoping that would count as my first visit. Now that I have read all this stuff, I know not to get my hopes up. My insurance also requires 6 months and they do specifically say 6 continuous months

Good luck, the six months really do fly by

[Donna415 47]

Working for an insurance company helps me a little with knowing medical policies and whatnot but we can only follow what the medical policy states. The doctor may be saying that insurance companies like to see 7 visits but have you spoken with your ins to find out? I have and work for Highmark bcbs, ours states 6 consecutive monthly visits with at least 3 weeks between each visit.

When I went to my surgeon, he wanted to consider that as my first weight check but since my surgeon is 1.5 hours away, he agreed to let me do then checks with my pcp who I went to see the next week.

I do know that authorizations can take as little as a day to as long as a monthly depending on if something is missing when the original authorization is submitted but it is not something that a customer service agent can control.

Good luck and I hope our months go by quickly!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[Laura Lopez 20]

Oh no you too?! I am having same issue with my surgeons office, I was even told that there is new guidelines that insurance is now requiring visits up to 2 years (leaves me with 1yr 6 moths left!) [emoji35][emoji35][emoji35]. I hope this get sorted out for you!

[audaciousmarie 161]

Today is my last weigh in of my six-month medically supervised diet...or so I thought.

I called my surgeons office and told them that my last weigh-in was coming soon. They told me that the insurance likes to see you finish the program and weigh in one last time. Really!? If you say 6 months then it should be 6 months, not 7! Grrr

That sucks

Sent from my SM-G925T using the BariatricPal App

[Amurillo04 109]

God I'm on my 5th month and I was looking forward to having surgery In July. I really hope I have to wait another month

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[Amurillo04 109]

Working for an insurance company helps me a little with knowing medical policies and whatnot but we can only follow what the medical policy states. The doctor may be saying that insurance companies like to see 7 visits but have you spoken with your ins to find out? I have and work for Highmark bcbs, ours states 6 consecutive monthly visits with at least 3 weeks between each visit.

When I went to my surgeon, he wanted to consider that as my first weight check but since my surgeon is 1.5 hours away, he agreed to let me do then checks with my pcp who I went to see the next week.

I do know that authorizations can take as little as a day to as long as a monthly depending on if something is missing when the original authorization is submitted but it is not something that a customer service agent can control.

Good luck and I hope our months go by quickly!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

So did you only have to do 6 weighs in instead of 7 like the other people? I have empire bcbs.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[lasmith0802 67]

@@Donna415 I was thinking of calling my insurance and asking again. I'm not sure why they said that. Maybe they misunderstood what I was saying. I called my surgeons office today, I'm waiting on a call back. Hopefully it dose only take a day for approval:) and hopefully the lady at my surgeons office was wrong[emoji52]

[lasmith0802 67]

Laura Lopez, Gezz I hope not! A year and a half that would suck! Good luck with your ins.

[Read2016 658]

This is so insane we have to go through this will I or will I not get approved to have my disease treated. There should be some kind of action we could take to bring attention to what's being done to us.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App