Very First Step?

[FatButNotHappy 0]

Hi. I have had health insurance through my husband for years, but none of them ever covered WLS. Well, I just graduated from college and started my first "real" job (at 40) and I am able to get insurance at my new job that WILL cover WLS. It is Aetna, by the way...and from reading around on here it looks like they do actually approve people! (YAY!!)

I have decided to take my job's insurance for the sole reason of using it for lapband (if approved.) It went into effect on 1/1/09. From what I can tell, I will have to do the six month diet thing as well as jump through other hoops. I am about 5'5" and weigh...gasp...235. I believe that makes my BMI just around 39 or 40. I do not have any other co-morbs unless you count joint pain, back pain, foot pain and depression -- although I do believe I am having some sleep apnea issues because I have been waking up gasping for air a few times over the last couple of months.

ANYWAY, I need to know what I do first. Do I go to my doctor and have her start tracking my weight? Do I call the insurance company? Do I go to the surgeons informational meeting? What should be my very first step (after researching lapband because I have been doing that for months.)

ALSO, if I do this diet--and I lose weight will they refuse to do the surgery? I am right at their "limit" now--so if I lose weight my BMI wont be high enough (in their opinion.)

Thanks a lot.

Stacie

Edited January 2, 2009 by FatButNotHappy

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Call the insurance company. Find out what surgeons are in your network. Get from the insurance company exactly what they will cover (psych consult? nutrition? what preop tests? overnight stay post op? etc) and ask them exactly what they require, when, what format (more info is better here...many like to deny on small technicalities) once you have that, pick a surgeon and go to a seminar. OR pick a couple and go to a couple seminars. Once you find the surgeon, his office can help you take it from there!