5 Year Weight History

Tracyde730 · July 9, 2008

I have a question...why does the ins co require a 5 year weight history? My surgeon's office sent my paperwork in & I'm waiting for an approval. I did ALL things required, including give the 5 yr weight history. The only thing that makes me nervous is that my 1st year of the 5 year history, I weighed about 47 lbs LESS than I do now, and my BMI was only about 33. My weight has gone steadily up since then, with me having a BMI of about 39.2 now and being on high blood pressure meds. Do you think that 1 year will hurt me? Do you think I'll still be approved?? :confused2:

dolly_lala · July 9, 2008

i'm worried about the same thing, around 5 years ago i weighed 170, thats 60 lbs less than what i weigh now, and my weight has gradually gone up since then, it stinks...i hope itwont effect you or i, good luck to you.

emily111 · July 9, 2008

I dont know why they want it but I didnt have a weight history at all.. I did everything they asked and I wrote my own weight history from 12 on up and I was approved in 2 days !!! :wink2: bcbs!! :blink: dont worry i am sure you will be approved.. I thought I would be denied and I already had an appeal letter lol

Tracyde730 · July 9, 2008

Thanks Emily! I have bc/bs of NJ. I guess if I could keep my weight down, then I wouldn't need this surgery. I can't, so hopefully I'll be approved soon. This feeling of waiting is the WORST!!!

southerngirl24 · July 9, 2008

I have UHC and I have been asked for one also. I am having a very tough time getting it together. I was under one doc's care from 2000-2001 and I have gotten those records and she only documented my weight two times in a year of visits! After that I have my OB's records which will show my highest of 320 during preganancy. But after that I had no insurance so I was not seen by a doc until spring of 2007 ( but I was never sick either) So I do not know how to explain the lapse.

Edited July 9, 2008 by southerngirl24

Shamrockgirl60 · July 9, 2008

Gee I didn't have to give any pre-surgery weight history at all. I do think BCBS is a bit less strict. They want letters from your primary care doctor and from the surgeon stating why you need the surgery. I got my approval yesterday.

I have gained weight since 1985. Up and down 50 lbs. here and there. I had early menopause and hypothyroidism that wasn't diagnosed for a few years. I gained a lot of weight then.

Showing a weight gain shouldn't be that bad since your having the surgery because of that weight gain.

A history and a letter from your doctors saying you have tried to lose weight and were unsuccessful

over those 5 years should be all they need.

Good luck everyone

Having surgery August 7, 2008

emily111 · July 9, 2008

like i said you cant give what you dont have... only thing you can do is write a really good letter. In my case I wrote that letter documenting everything from age 12 till now and had about 10 family members sign it. I am sure this is why I got approved because my pcp wrote a letter only saying I think my patient needs this surgery call me with questions lol ugh I did all the pre op testing today that was horrible!!! :smile: but very happy to have my surgery and I already lost 5 pounds in 3 days on the liquid diet woohooo :scared2:

Tracyde730 · July 9, 2008

I spoke to my "Surgical Coordinator" at my sugeon's office today. I explained how I was worried because the 1st yr of my 5 year weight history was 40+ ppounds lower. She said she spoke to many ins companies & they;re mostly concerned with making sure you went to the doctor on a regular basis. I hope that's the truth.....:smile:

southerngirl24 · July 10, 2008

I heard from my OB's office today and they will not have my chart until Monday. :redface:

So I am thinking I need to get to work on a letter to explain my lapse and also detail my history myself to go along with the remainder of the records when I get them. Is there a way it should be written?