How long from start to finish? FRUSTRATED!

[Hope2BHottie 0]

I realize insurance companies have different requirements as do doctors for this procedure. But I'm soooooooo frustrated!!

I have had my psyche eval. Next is two appts. with a nutritionist....fine. BUT, I just got my packet today and understand that I have to have a doctors supervised weight loss for 6 months!! The only doctor supervised weight loss I have had was when I was on phentermine for about 3 months with no success. They will not count all the other methods I tried like Jenny Craig, Weight watchers, etc.

I thought I had read someone on this board that some people can go from first appt to surgury in a month or less.

How long did it take you from your first seminiar, or surgeon appointment to getting a surgery date? Also, where are you from? I am so seriously thinking of going to another state to have this done or find a surgeon that will "fast track" the procedure. I have United Healthcare Insurance. Frankly, I'm not sure if this is a requirement from my insurance company or the surgeon. My sister has the same insurance and it didnt take her this long.

Any suggestions???? I'm sooooo tired of waiting. I want to have this done NOW!! (patience is not one of my virtues)

Thanks

Jacki

PS I'm in Memphis, TN

[juliegeraci 7]

Jacki, I live in San Jose, CA and I too have United Healthcare. They didn't require a 6 month supervised diet. It took me 6-8 week so get through all the appointments and through surgery. Good luck.

[M Taylor 0]

I had my six-months supervised diet already completed and it STILL took me six more months to get approved, but I had issues with insurance losing my paperwork (although BCBSIL has still been the best insurance company I've ever been with) and a pulmonologist whose first available appointment was a month out. From what I hear, the people who have the surgery within a month are usually self-pay patients. The program I went through will put insurance patients on a "fast track" program if they have had a bulk of the requirements and paperwork completed and obtain insurance approval before the initial consultation.

Marie

[make33 2]

Yes, I'm from Pennsylvania (UPMC Insurance), began my Quest back in March, and was also required by the insurance company to have six visits. (Banded last Tuesday)

And yes, I felt exactly like you do when I first found out--but here's what I discovered: these six visits to a nutritionist (actually five months time) allow you to take your time in making this decision.

Read, read, read about the changes this will make to your life--both in this site and others--this is a major decision and in the end, this insurance requirement was a blessing to me, because I surely did NOT know back in March what I knew two weeks ago before my surgery.

This preparation time is quality--take advantage of it. Believe me, the time will fly and you will appreciate this opportunity...

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

Oh, I can certainly sympathize with you!

Doctors and insurance companies both have their own rules on hoops to jump through on you journey. I also had to go through six months of supervised dietician and weigh-in appts. I also had problems with scheduling with someone who is uber busy and always "re-scheduling" me. I also still even have an appt tomorrow for an EKG, and pre-op - and I still don't even have a definite date yet!! Confused? I know I am!

I did just speak with my insurance case manager yesterday and we talked for a good while. She is so super nice! She promised as soon as she gets the packet from my PCP, she will fly me through. I went over all my struggles with her, and she seemed almost in awe that I had done all of this, on my own really. I had to make it happen sometimes, on my own accord when things weren't going as smoothly as I'd liked.

You and I are just alike, in that we are impatient. Also that we have to go through so much to get the procedure done. I figure I'd been going through this since early spring of this year - so come on already!

Anyway, please just hang in there. It will happen - and I completely agree with make33 above. Use this time to do as much research on this procedure as possible. I did and still am, and I find new things everyday.

Best Wishes,

Irene

[Tangi 0]

My surgery is just a few weeksa away. I have to say my insurance company approved me very quickly. I knew with-in a week I was approved and three weeks before my surgeon received the approval letter. The only thing that my insurance requested is that I had tried to lose weight and it's documented by my physician. Two years ago I tried to lose weight with my doctor and dietian help. I also tried numerous of other diets.

The best advise I can give you is to work with your insurance company and don't give up. When I was looking into lapband surgery I called my insurance company before I spoke to my doctor.

[AwesomeSleeve 5]

Did I read that your insurance company is BCBS of Illinois? If so, please tell me about your experience with them. I am now seeing my PCP for a 6 month diet and exercise program. How long did it take you to get approved, were they difficult to deal with, etc.

[babs0101 1]

I too had a 6 month supervised weight loss program to do before insurance approval. It's a pain, but do it and in 6 months you will be glad you did! I was! I am!

[MizPeppy 3]

It took me 3 months from the seminar to the surgery. I live in WA state and have Providence insurance. I was not required to be on a diet for 6 months but I had a sleep study, EKG, psych consult, sleep study, nutritionist appt and a physical therapy appt. Oh, and I had to see their regular doc and have lots of blood work too.