Question about pre-surgery loss

beautyqueen · March 31, 2009

Hi all,

I am just beginning this process although I have considered lap-band for several years. I am going to my first information seminar with the surgeon in a few weeks.

Right now I am at a qualifying BMI for the surgery. I know that surgeons require you to lose a certain amount of weight before the surgery, which I don't have a problem with. My question is -- will an insurance company reject you because if you at the qualifying weight but lost, say 20 lbs before surgery and no longer met the BMI? What weight goes in with your paperwork, your first visit weight?

I'm just worried because I have lost 20-30 lbs literally a dozen times in the last 10 years. I can get that far and can no longer keep going. If I get rejected for losing that weight I will be crushed.

Thanks in advance for any replies. As you can tell, I'm totally uneducated about this process at this stage.

megster27 · March 31, 2009

I was in the same boat, I had a BMI of like 43, but after loosing 18LBS before surgery, it went down to about 39. The 39 would have put me below the approval, so I believe it is your prior weight, I would ask the insurance claim person at your doctor's office though to make sure.

beautyqueen · March 31, 2009

Thanks, Megster. I'm hoping that's the case. I am just over a BMI of 40 now. With spring coming I am actually looking forward to getting outside and being more active. It would seem to counter-intuitive to dissuade someone from doing so just so they can maintain a qualifying BMI.

I guess I'll have more answers on the 14th (my seminar date). I wish it was tomorrow.

Suzdavis · March 31, 2009

My surgeon told me it was my weight and BMI at my first visit with him. I was borderline on the weight but with my diabetes, acid reflux and sleep apnea the BMI only had to be over 35 that also at the first weigh-in.