Aetna Insurance-3 month (90 day) multidisciplinary diet

I know it's late but I'm up obsessing over surgery and reading between OH and verticalsleevetalk.com...hopefully when people wake up, someone will help me! :) 

So this is what I'm pondering... I am starting my diet for insurance approval. My surgeon's staff offers a free six month plan with the dietician that the average insurace requires. However, for those who did the 90 day fast track with Aetna, I'm having difficutly finding clarity on the what that exactly entails? What were your steps? Should I see the nutritionist offered by the surgeon and also see my PCP monthly to meet the requirement? And what did you do for the excercise element? Can someone break it down for me PLEASE! I have searched and read brief posts about it, but I need something in layman's terms. Aetna's member services and the pre-certification deparment had the freaking nerve to tell me that they had no way of clarifying to me what "THEIR" policy meant! I couldn't get rid of my blank stare as I listened to them in frustration and disbelief. They said ask the surgeon... as if he wrote it! LOL Please help me...pretty please!

 Hi Lexie.  I have this same requirement.  I'm not approved yet, so take this under advisement.  My hospital offers a multi-disciplinary plan.  It is not my PCP or the NUT that I will be taking forward (most likely)  but rather a special program with another doctor and dietian monitoring me for 3 months.  So far, insurance has covered all but the co-pay for this program and I had the surgeon's office verify with Aetna that they would accept this program.  I'm going to the YMCA and doing water aerobics for my exercise program.  They keep records of when I attend and if Aetna give me a problem about that, then I will produce those records as proof (at least that is my plan).   Hope this helps.

Hi Lexie.  I had Aetna and went the 3-month route.  It was a piece of cake.  My surgeon's office had me see another physician that was in charge of documenting my 3-month effort.

Essentially he coached me in some lifestyle changes and gave me some specific actions to take.  I saw him once a month for 3 months and reported back to him how I was doing with the actions.  I wasn't necessarily required to lose weight, but I worked to not gain any either. 

I would say you should ask your surgeon's office what they recommend for meeting the requirement.  Hopefully they are familiar with the process and can lead you through it.

I did have co-pays associated with each of my office visits for this, but I don't think it was very expensive.

My doctor's offered all the services for the diet, exercise and nutrition and support group.

I went to the every month for 6 six months and they documented everything.

The surgeon's office should be able to tell you what steps they use for patience with Aetna. They will have process down to make sure you get approval since they work with them so often.

I got the same answer when I started my journey to WLS. I was also amazed and thought, you wrote it but don't know how to explain it ????

 My surgeon and his nutritionist met with me 3 times over 90 days to fulfill this requirement.  The visit was not formal, but only a formality.  The nut reviewed my current diet and exercise then suggested some modifications.  The most important aspect of meeting this Aetna requirement is getting it documented and submitted to them properly.  My surgeon's office is organized with respect to insurance submissions.  If there is an administrative person that eventually submits the paperwork to insurance and he or she is experienced or knows the ins and outs, I would tell you to talk to them.  The general requirement as I found out is 3 visits with each the nutritionist and the doctor (poss PCP) over the 90 days. 

Thanks you all! This really helps. I'm scheduled to see the surgeon on Wednesday! :) No turning back now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) Although I am trying to decide what my last "fat meal" should be! LOL