hELP ME PLEASE!!! Has anyone ever heard of this??/

I was cruising around this site in some other forums, when I read that if you go thru your pre-op and are successful at losing weight, your insurance company may say that you are successful and will deny coverage? Is this true?  Has this unfortunate issue happened to anyone?  I am worried because I am doing what I am supposed to, but now I am afraid that if I loose weight prior to surgery, my insurance will say .....CYABYE...you can't have it done becuase you are successful without the surgery. UGHHHHHHH.........

hi, never heard of it  i do not even think  that youre ins checks on the wt loss good luck deb

Have I mentioned the black cat that followed me under the ladder while I was looking at the cracked mirror during the thunderstorm overhead???  LOL.....You see where I am going with the whole luck thing right ????   LOL

I have never heard that or do I know of anyone who was denied because of that. What I was told and feel is that by attempting to lose some weight prior to surgery shows that you are committed to changing the way  you eat and it shows you are willing to follow our surgeons dietary recommendations. Surgery cannot be thought of as an easy fix. Surgery is a tool to help us lose a significant amount of weight and if we use this tool to it's full advantage we can get to a more healthy weight and maintain it. It means a lifelong committment to changing how, when and what we eat. A committment to exercise. Following the plan as well as we can is the way to be successful. Best of luck ps. every pound loss before hand is less to lose afterwards. Sher

Michele,

I have never heard of this happening.  I think one of the reasons for the 3 or 6 month diet that the insurance companies sometimes make you do before surgery is to make sure that you have tried dieting/exercising before having surgery.  I honestly don't know anyone who is overweight that has never dieted or exercised, but I guess it is possible that they do exist.  I think your doc just needs to document that you have been under physician/nutritionist supervision for the past however many months.  I don't think the ins company looks at how much weight you did or did not lose.

Michelle 

Once in CT that I know of, in the last 4 years,  someone was denied because they had lost the weight during the pre-op diet. The surgeon contacted the insurnace company and fought for the patient to be banded. The appeal was successful, as well as the surgery.  So.. has it happend, yes.  Peter

<<<<<  BANG >>>>>>   THAT WAS MY BALLOON THAT JUST POPPED.........Oh sorry  it didn't POP it exploded.  Thanks!   

I think it may be helpful if you can document what diets you have tried, how long you were on them, if you lost weight, if so, how much, and how long it was kept off.  I had this done along with all the other issues I was having due to my weight... I was approved one two three. I handed in anything and everything I could to help my case.  My doctor said he had never seen someone so prepaired with documentation before their first dr. visit as I was.   I really think that what I had on paper really help with my speedy approval. Good luck to you.... If you need help don't be afraid to ask!

I lost 20 lbs prior to surgery and was told that it was mostly to shrink your liver to make the surgery easier and of course also to show that you can commit to the program needed after surgery.  I don't think the insurance company sees anything but your starting weight.  Hope this helps.  I am 1 year out and have lost 101 lbs.

Thanks for your encouragement and insight.  I will carry on with what I am doing, and stay focused and determined.