Weight gain during 6 month pre-op period

[DanieHall 46]

Hi everyone! I am in the six month pre-op period and have a dr. Appointment this week. I have gained a couple of lbs since my last dr appointment and am curious if his happened to anyone else and what happened...does the six months start over? Do they give you a pass as long as you lose weight the remaining months of the initial six months? I’m so extremely disappointed in myself and have had a stressful month (not an excuse I know)...this is just stressing me out even more. Anyone have any advice? Thanks in advance! :)

[Ann64 0]

I don't have an answer but a question of my own.

What is the six month waiting period ?

I am just scheduled for seminar but read all on local site but never saw anything about six month wait???

[DanieHall 46]

The insurance company I have requires a monitored 6 month period by your physician before they will perform the surgery. Not all insurance is the same so you may not have this requirement. :)

[FancyChristine15 810]

I wouldn't think that you're wait time would start over. This didn't happen to me though, so I'm not sure. I had to lose a certain amount in that 6 month period though. There wasn't a certain amount that I had to lose each appointment.

@Ann64Not everyone has to wait. My insurance required that I wait 6 months and be under a doctor's diet before they would pay for me to have the surgery done.

[SusieQ2019 567]

I have Aetna and I read somewhere here that they denied some who gained weight. My doctor did not say anything about loosing but the nurse was happy that I lost 1lb in my last vist but so far I've lost 5lbs. My insurance ask for 4 doctors visit and 3 nutritionist visit. I am keeping it on the safe side to at least loose a few lbs.

Check with your surgeon to be sure.

[J'sJourney 14]

From what I understand, your 6 months wouldn't start over, you would just need to be under your starting eight by the time you submit for approval from your insurance. Your insurance could be different though.

[Ann64 0]

I don't have an answer but a question of my own.

What is the six month waiting period ?

I am just scheduled for seminar but read all on local site but never saw anything about six month wait???

Ok thanks

[KC77 20]

I had this happen, and disappointedly, i actually gained 6 pounds over the entire 6 month period. My insurance company denied the approval of the surgery and said they would not approve if i did not lose any weight...they simply wanted to see some weight loss over the 6 months, however, gave me two options from there. First was that I could withdraw my surgery submission so i didn't have a denial on my record (I don't think they would consider a second request), or I could have 45 days to get below my initial starting weight. I had my insurance person at my dr office hold and I then was able to lose and get below my first of the six month weigh in by 4 pounds. We resubmitted and they approved. Moral to the story is to go to the first weigh in of the 6 month effort with extra weight in your pockets so that you don't have to lose that much. It appears that most doctors find NO validity in this 6-month weightloss plan and feel that it is merely another hurdle that the insurance companies put in the process.

[DanieHall 46]

Thank you so much! I have a couple more months to go so I think I will be good. I was not given a target weight though so wondering if I should be inquiring about that...overall I am down but this past month has been a nightmare.

[Poppyseed28 115]

I only had a 3 month diet and I actually gained weight 2 of the 3 months. At my last appointment I lost what I gained but it was still over my starting weight. My insurance still approved my surgery even with the weight gain.

[DanieHall 46]

On 03/05/2019 at 14:15, Poppyseed28 said:

I only had a 3 month diet and I actually gained weight 2 of the 3 months. At my last appointment I lost what I gained but it was still over my starting weight. My insurance still approved my surgery even with the weight gain.

Thanks! I just verified that my insurance doesn’t have a minimum loss over the 6 months (whew!) but I need to have lost some weight. I wish I only had to deal with this for 3 months that would have been awesome! :)

[Poppyseed28 115]

2 minutes ago, DanieHall said:

12 minutes ago, Poppyseed28 said:

I only had a 3 month diet and I actually gained weight 2 of the 3 months. At my last appointment I lost what I gained but it was still over my starting weight. My insurance still approved my surgery even with the weight gain.

Thanks! I just verified that my insurance doesn’t have a minimum loss over the 6 months (whew!) but I need to have lost some weight. I wish I only had to deal with this for 3 months that would have been awesome!

You can do it! These last few months will fly by.

[DavidP 6]

On 3/4/2019 at 3:27 PM, SusieQ2019 said:

I have Aetna and I read somewhere here that they denied some who gained weight. My doctor did not say anything about loosing but the nurse was happy that I lost 1lb in my last vist but so far I've lost 5lbs. My insurance ask for 4 doctors visit and 3 nutritionist visit. I am keeping it on the safe side to at least loose a few lbs.

Check with your surgeon to be sure.

I have Aetna as well and I gained 4 ounces from the time I started until the last Dr visit before they submitted. I still got an approval. I think I had actually lost a little but I was wearing heavier clothes and shoes at the last appointment.

[SusieQ2019 567]

Hi DavidP,

How long did it take Aetna to approve you after your surgeon's submission.

Thank you!

Susie

[OhMyGracious! 26]

My insurance actually requires seven consecutive monthly visits. My doctor required me to loose 10-12 pounds prior to surgery. This was in additional to his mandatory seminar and nutrition class. My tentative date is scheduled for April 15th, but the doctor gave me a specific diet to follow for at least two weeks prior to surgery.

We were told flat out if the required weight loss didn't happen, there would be no surgery.