Information

H everyone, I am new to this whole process. I have my information session with Dr Barba's group April 8th and just can't wait. It took over a year of researching to get to this point and I AM THRILLED to be here with all of you!!!! My questions are plentiful naturally. Can anyone tell me what the timeframes have been for you from info session to actaul surgery date? Is anyone going thru Aetna? How did that go? I am just trying to gather as much info as possible to add to my list. I love reading the posts, updates, etc. What a great support group in here.. THANK YOU VERY MUCH Carrie

Hi Carrie, When I read you are in the beginning process and have Aetna I had to write to let you know what I've been through. I am attaching a web site for Aetna's outline of what you need to do for this surgery. You absolutely have to have six months of seeing your regular physician for documentation of weight loss and exercise on a consistant basis with results. In the six months that I did this I lost 24 lbs. I have an excellent primary doctor and he was able to really help with the notes. Make sure he speaks with your surgeon, they will be on the same track when it comes to what the insurance company wants. Make sure you go the entire six months... they won't even look at the paperwor****il then. I just submitted my papers last Friday and I hope I hear very soon!! I will let you know when I hear. Good luck and write back if you have any more questions after reading this site. http://www.aetna.com/cpb/data/CPBA0157.html Ann

Hi Carrie, Ann gave you wonderful information. You must have 6 mos. of documented weight loss attempts with your physician for Aetna to approve it. You can read all about it on the web site she provided. The other thing you will want is lots of notes from the primary care physician indicating any time they spoke with you about your weight, co-morbities because of weight, etc. I had that all in order, and was approved in about 1 week! No problem at all. Best wishes to you on your journey, God Bless, Kathy B

Kathy, Thank you very much for the information. I have Type 2 Diabetes so that helps I guess. When you say lots of notes do you mean in my file? He has been GREAT FOR SURE. He is just so supportive. I appreciate all the informatiob everyone shares with me. I is GREAT to have such a support system. Thank you

Hi Carrie, Yes, I mean the notes from your file that your PCP has. Best wishes to you. Kathy B.

Hi Carrie, Welcome to this message board. I'm finding that there is a lot of support here. Wonderful people, really. My surgery will be on April 27. I originally started my journey on September 2, attending my first seminar at Norwalk Hospital. I too, have Aetna and after sending in all my thoroughly prepared information through my surgeon's office, I was denied within a week. The reason they gave was that I did not have 6 months of consecutive physician-documented weight loss and exercise attempts. Now, I had seen the doctor many times during that period, but as is usual with overweight patients, I did NOT want to talk about weight. So nothing was ever documented. I was VERY upset, since they had assigned a tentative surgery date of November 25. At any rate, I proceeded to go to the doctor and have him document EVERY visit as being for weight reduction and had my blood sugar done, etc. So before the six months was up, my surgeon's office wrote an appeal letter, including all the 'new' information from my regular doctor. Aetna then had 30 days to reply to the appeal and on the 28th day I heard that I was approved. Whew - it's been long and grueling, but I am sure it will be worth it. A new and improved life with health is on the way. So, after such a lengthy explanation, it would probably be a good idea to start going to your regular doctor and documenting everything!! I was going every 3-4 weeks. Best of luck to you, and I hope you can join us really soon on our journey! Take care, Linda.

Hi Linda, Thank you SO MUCH for the thorough information. I appreciate so much hearing what everyone has to say and boy have I received good information here. Great advise for sure! I will definately make sure my PCP starts documenting my weight (ugh)! He does check my BP every visit. Best of luck with your surgery! Before you know it......... Carrie

Hi Carrie I am one of Dr. Barba's patients too . I went to the September info session, and since then I have had all of my appointmnets with the specialists and attended the nutritionist appointments. I FINALLY get to see Dr. Barba on April 12th, and from there I get a surgery date and pray that my insurance will cover it. I don't have Aetna though, so I can't give you any info there. So it took 7 months from the info session for me to actually see Dr. Barba, but I guess it used to take about a year. It doesn't seem like it, but the time flew by. It gives you time to get all of your questions answered too, and the people in his office are great. The nutritionist makes you lose some weight, and you have to keep it off, otherwise you can't have the surgery. I think you picked a great surgeon, and i look forward to hearing how things are coming along for you. Take care! Meagan