When does the 6 month wait begin????

[LSF 264]

I have Tufts which requires I wait the 6 months. I originally consulted with my PCP in January about starting the journey for lapband surgery, attended the seminar in January and met with the Surgeon in February. The surgon's office said that they send in the paperwork to Tufts and then Tufts will send me a letter stating that I am enrolled in the 6 month "I can change program". 3 weeks later, I'm still waiting! The surgeons office said that Tufts has approved it that I will be approved after the 6 month completion date of 9/12. I called Tufts to tell them that I never received instructions on what to do for the 6 months and they are saying that they gave the info to my PCP. I called the PCP's office to make ANOTHER appointment and they don't know why I need to see them again. This has been SO frustrating. I have a feeling that this program hasn't been activated yet and I'm tired of waiting when I have been ready for 3 months now to get this going.

[cakegal 0]

I would suggest getting started with your six month diet. Make sure you see your doctor every month around the same date, give or take a few days. Make sure they record your weight and blood pressure. My doctor also didn't understand the whole 6 mo. issue, but I explained what I was doing, and every month I have to remind them what I'm there for and what they are documenting. You can enlist their support by asking for blood work to be done, and having them recommend any diet solutions. I keep a food journal, (as best I can), and when we meet we discuss how the last month was, and set goals for the next month. He documents that. I even photo coppied the evaluation form that I got from my doctors office, and give him one every month to fill out. He filled one out the first visit, and as soon as he has 7, (beginning with the first mo., and ending with the last day of the 6th mo.) then I will submit all my paper work into my doctor. I don't think you need to start your six month program when they necissarily tell you to, I would get staarted right now. Good luck!

[LSF 264]

That's what I'm going to do but I guess they have a "health coach" that is supposed to check in with me to see how I'm doing. No call yet.

[ShellShock 0]

To be safe, go to your PCP and have them document that you are starting a six month physician supervised diet. Then each month go back and make sure they do all of your vitals, weight and put they it is for the six month diet. That is all my doctor has been doing. I never got a form for them to fill out. I believe you can do anything to lose weight as long as your doctor documents what you are doing.

If in the mean time someone calls you from your insurance then great, if not then you already started and you haven't wasted time.

Though I would call and ask them again what the details of their program is. If you don't get an answer you like ask for it in writing or call back. I seem to get different answers each time I call because they are too lazy to look it up.

Good Luck!

[LSF 264]

I finally sent in an e-mail to the insurance company. They just replied that I am registered in the "I can Change Program" and that someone should have called me by now. They also gave me the phone number to call. At least I have that in writing from them. I'm going to call first thing on Monday.