How long does it take from start to finish?

mariem · August 20, 2008

Before the surgeon would submit my papers to insurance I had to attend 2 info sessions, see the nutrionist, see the pysch doctor, head of the department, bloodwork, gallbladder ultrasound, and then meet with the surgeon. The usually put all the appointments together. Mine was spread over 2 days and the 3rd time it was with the surgeon and then scheduled my surgery and preop appointment. Every hospital is different.

Liquidbluegal,

I have BC/BS MA too. I have done the first step of attending the seminar. I talked to the gals in the office and gave them my insurance info. They said they wanted to verify the insurance and get back with me with all that is required for surgery.

Did you need proof of 5 years of obesity? What about a 6 month diet?

I did see on the insurance info that they want a record of failed attempts of dieting. Did they just take your word for it or did you have to prove it?

I don't have that at all. What I do have is a BMI of about 43 with no co-morbidities.

Of course I did try to lose weight in the past 5 years, I just don't have proof of it. I also have lapses of time of having my weight recorded. I dont have 5 years of proof of my weight by being weighed every year at a doctor's office. I am just going off what they said some insurances are like.

Thanks!

slim2be · August 20, 2008

When they told me to write a diet history I thought the same thing you did, "How am I going to prove this"? But the dietician just said to do the best you can from memory and that was fine. I didn't have to show proof....how could you possibly do that? So don't worry, I'm sure they'll tell you the same if you question it.

mariem · August 20, 2008

When they told me to write a diet history I thought the same thing you did, "How am I going to prove this"? But the dietician just said to do the best you can from memory and that was fine. I didn't have to show proof....how could you possibly do that? So don't worry, I'm sure they'll tell you the same if you question it.

I did write my diet history already. It's harder than it appears at first. Define attempts? Oh I have about 330 of those in any given year. It starts in the morning and ends at about 5pm feeling totally defeated.

On the other side I do have serious attempts like when I lost around 55 pounds on weight watchers. It just never works for me long term.

I honestly don't know anyone who is overweight who hasn't tried to lose weight at some point.

The reason I was worried about the diet plan and also the previous 5 years of spotty medical care where I wasn't weighed every year for the past 5 years without a 12 month gap is because that's what the doctor's office told me about some plans.

They said a lot of insurances make it nearly impossible to qualify and if you do they dont make it a fast process. She said a lot of insurances will ask for the person to follow a 6 month medically supervised diet. (as if we have never tried to diet before grrrrr)

When I read BC/BS MA policy on getting the lap band it seemed quite easy. Just qualify with the BMI and be willing to be enrolled in a program for after care and that's about it. Even the doctor's office when she saw that told me it looked easy but she had never worked with that insurance company before. She said, hopefully it's as easy as it appears.

Jaculin412 · August 20, 2008

Liquidbluegal, I have BCBS of NJ and I hope my approval goes as smoothly as yours did. I have to do 6 months monitored by my PCP, just finished month 3, had my surgical consult July 23rd which consisted of the surgeon, the nutritionist, and the psych eval. At that appointment they scheduled my surgery for November 24th (november being month 6 lol). I have two tests to be done at the gastro docs, I have the consult set up for September 29th and then I'll set up the appt for the actual tests when I'm there. I wish they could just do them at my first appt but they have to have a "consult" first grrr!!! I have to attend two support meetings prior to surgery and one after. I have done the July support meeting and I'll do the September one as well (I'll be away during the August one) The surgeon is the same as with you, they do not send the paperwork in until you are done with everything. I was glad to see you were approved within a week because I will not have my 6 months of monitored notes from my PCP until early November and surgery is scheduled for the 24th of November. I guess the surgeon and staff know what they are doing.

Edited August 20, 2008 by Jaculin412

August 20, 2008

It really depends on your insurance company. I have BCBS FEP. I was approved really quick (within two weeks).

As for the surgery itself, it really depends on your body type and size. Most doctors put their patients on a pre-op diet to help shrink the liver. It helps the doctor manover better in your abdomin to place the band. When I say size - I mean insides. Some people carry more fat around their stomach than others. It may take the doctor longer if that is the case. Port positioning also plays a roll. I've heard some surgeries last as short as 20 minutes and some up to 2 hours. It really depends on the person. Personally - mine took about an hour. My liver was good and shrunken. My port is in my shoulder/breast area - so there is a little more manovering under the breast for the tubing and placement.

Good luck to you.