Waiting for insurance approval.............

Hello All, I have had all my tests and I understand that the approval letter was sent to BCBS of Illinois last Wednesday. I will be having the Lap Band Surgery when approved. My bmi is 35.6 @ 5'2". I have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, GERDS, and high cholestrol and blood pressure. Did any of you have these and how long did it take for your approvals? Just anxiously awaiting............well, maybe not so patiently.... Regards, Martha Lynn Austin, TX

Best of luck on your journey Martha. I have diabetes, high blood pressure and cholestrol, and am praying that they will all disappear soon.

I am certain that you will get what you want. My cousin Julie had the Lap Band surgery 2 yrs. ago. She lost from 214 to 125. Her triglycerides were at 1500, cholestrol was off the chart, and blood pressure was very high. All are within normal ranges and no meds required. Regards, and best wishes. MLynn

Hi Martha Lynn, I went to the seminar January 6 and provided the application a couple weeks later. I was called by the office 2 weeks later for my appointment and told insurance was handled. I received two approval letters from the insurance company. I had (and I say had because these are two conditions that resolved almost immediately after surgery) HBP, Diabetes. I still have OSA and NASH, but I didn't have hassles with the insurance which has to be due to my husband's employer's awesome benefits. Good luck!

I have BCBS of AL and I was approved within 12 days. My co worker who has the same coverage I do, was approved in 2 days. Go figure. My BCBS will only pay for a RNY, they consider the lap band "experimental" but your BCBS might feel differently. Best of luck and praying you hear soon! Hugs, Sandy

Martha, Do you have the customer service number for BCBS? If so CALL them! Just remember to be sweet as pie when you call and "just ask". Make sure they got the paperwork, and that everything is okay. When I called (1 day after it was faxed), they said it must be in processing because we don't have it, so I asked for processings number "just to make sure they have it". They gave me that number and when I talked to a gal there (very very sweetly of course!) I asked if they had it, she went and checked, said yes it was there and she would "move it to the top of the pile for me" Well I got a call the very next day that I was approved-it is worth the sucking up sometimes! Good luck to you ~~ surgery in 12 days! ~~

thank you so much. You are a doll. Good luck with your surgery. I will call them back and "suck up" major on Friday. Did you have BCBS? They said that lap band was covered when medically necessary, so I hope to have my surgery in 3 weeks. Regards, and keep in touch. Martha