Feel like I am getting the run around.

The surgeons office I am trying to use is very structured. I was suppose to receive a letter stating everything I had to do and send in to them before they would schedule me an initial consult. Well I got my letter today , and it has nothing regarding my insurance requirements. I have contacted Aetna though, and found that they require a 6 month supervised diet. My question is do I have to complete the whole 6 months before submitting any of my clearances and seeing the doctor? It does not say anywhere in any of my information. Oh and I have called 3 times with no return phone call to the doctors office. Any suggestions or advice??

You aren't getting the run around.  Every surgeon is different and each insurance company has different requirements.  I found from talking to people though that most insurance companies require you to complete a weight loss program for several months before surgery such as MOVE, Weigh****chers or as you listed above through you Dietitian.  Eating requirements prior and after surgery also vary per surgeon.  Keep your chin up, I know I got anxious to get started to once I had made up my mind to have the surgery.  There will be many medical visits with different specialists before your surgery too and I found this good so I knew my health was good or where I needed improvement.  Good luck!   Mary G.

Hang in there! I don't think you're getting the run around. I was just approved today by my insurance but must go through a 6 month program with a nutritionist. before surgery. It's to make sure you are committed to changing your eating habits. Under my plan, I must lose 5% of my current weight before they will do surgery. Every plan is different, but my guess is that they are being straight up with you.  Good Luck!

Patience is the word.  I work for an Internist.  We refer many patients (including my husband) to the weight loss surgery program.  It is quite a process but, do not get discouraged!  Part of the program IS to see how committed you are to change both mentally and physically. Change is not easy.  After surgery it is a whole new world.  Eating will not rule your life like it does now.  I know from experience (my daughter had wls almost 3 yrs ago) and now my husband is at the end of his journey and will soon be scheduling a surgery date.  Calmly and gently ask to have everything and every step explained to you in terms that you can understand.  In our office we respond and are more likely to help the patients who treat us nicely rather than like hostile children having temper tantrums.  Slowly go through every step and it will be worth it.  The weight did not come on over night and the surgery can not be done overnight.  It is only for your own protection and health.  Best of luck and I hope you have a beautiful outcome.  I'm crossing my fingers for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

I had problems with my surgeon's office also. They office people are not very good communicators but the surgeon has a great reputation. From the research that I have done on my dr, the biggest complaint is about the front office, unfortunately. I have United Healthcare PPO and they approved my request rather quickly. Once the office got the info into them, it only took about a week for UHC to approve it. I didn't even have to do a supervised diet. I have in the past and they did ask for a 5 year weight history from my drs but other than that, it was relatively easy to get approved. Now, i'm just waiting for my dr's office to confirm my surgery date with the hospital.
If you don't get any return phone calls, I would keep calling and speaking with different people. Try to get emails for them also and just bug the heck out of them. The squeaky wheel is the one that gets the oil!
Don't give up. There are other doctors out there if this one doesn't want your business.

Good luck.
Rhonda