Hi everyone.   I went to my regular doc yesterday.  We had discussed this surgery last year and she gave me a referral.  Turns out that my insurance would not cover any weight loss surgeries.    Now, I have my insurance plus another.  Well, the new insurance covers the surgery!    That is why I went in to see her again.     I had explained to her that I had been on a weight loss program for EXACTLY one year to the day.  I had dropped 30 pounds but then leveled off and then gained 5 pounds back.  IN ONE YEAR!  Not much weight for such a long time.   Anyway .... she now is telling me that I need to be coming into her office once a month for 6 MONTHS then she would give the referral!    This really sucks!      I have to keep a record of my eating and exercise for 6 months .... I told her I have a complete record for the whole year, why would that not work?  It was not "supervised" by a doctor.    My gosh, I have diabetes.   I developed it when I was pregnant with my twins who are now 20 months old.  I hurt all the time.  I NEED to get this OFF.    Obesity is huge in my family.  So is heart problems and diabetes.   Because I have the diabetes, she said at 3 months, they would do the referral ......   Did everyone have to wait 6 months and be on a diet for 6 months???????????????    Any words for me here?????  Thanks!   Jeanee [email protected]  

Hey everyone!   I am Jeanee and I am in Anchorage.  I am getting ready to get the Lap Band procedure done.    FINALLY, after a few years, the doctors here are accepting my insurance!  And the insurance is covering it!    I am going to be seeing Dr. Searles next week.  Pretty darned excited about it.   For those of you that have had the surgery.  They do a psyc. test, right?  What do I need to expect from that??  No, I am not a nutcase .... but worry that if I tell them I get depressed from time to time from being so overweight .... will they cancel on me?  Know what I mean?   I am 240 right now.  I was 265 but took over a year to drop that 25 pounds!  I have been at a total stand still for a few months now.    I have 20 month old twins and as active as they are, I really really want to do more with them .... not be embarrassed thinking people are looking at me laughing because I am running or something like that.  I want to be around a long time for them.   I also have diabetes!  I developed it with my pregnancy but it never went away.  I REALLY think it was there before.  I pay attention to how I am feeling and I remember the same from before .....    Let's see .....  My BMI came out to be 37.  But with diabetes, severe joint pain in my hip, knees and ankles .....  I HOPE I get this!! Any advice before I go in and start this????????????????? Jeanee

I meet him tomorrow- I'll let you know. If you send me your email, I'll send you the information I found online about the coverage. It's in PDF form. I' m not sure though; if it's the employers that are making the exemption, and not the insurance?  Like, depending on the policy (the agreed coverage between employer and the insurance company) that's trying to exclude it, but I'm going to try and find out!

Oh wow!  Please do let me know!!  Keeping my fingers crossed! Jeanee

I have that insurance.  I tried last year and they said NO weight loss surgeries are covered.    But maybe mine is written differently than yours.   Good luck!  And let me know if you got it so I can recheck and ask questions!