Good News for Dreyer Patients with BC/BS HMO IL

The requirements have changed for Dreyer Patients who have BC/BS HMO IL!  As of 10/01/08 the only requirement is, a BMI of 40 or more, or BMI of 35-40 with 2 co-morbidities!  They have dropped the Psych Eval, Dietician appts, Sleep Study, ETC.....

PRAISE GOD!  The insurance companies are finally getting it! 

Have a Blessed Day All!

Vicki

I personally think they should stick to a psych eval, dietician appts, sleep study etc..  This is a life changing experience and you need to be prepared for what is in store.  I think the diet, exercise, phyc evals etc not only prepares you but weeds out those that think this is a quick fix.  Just my opinion... 

Good Luck to you.
Christina

Christina, I'm  with you. Whether or not the insurance requires all these workups I think an excellent doc and bariatric program would require them. Otherwise it's like a cancer patient taking whatever chemo drug is on hand without seeing which is the right one for the cancer. I wouldn't go to a doc that didn't require a full workup! My life is worth more than that!

Connie 

I can only tell you that my year with the dietician was OVERKILL.  I believe that any good Surgeon would require that you be educated before you had the surgery.  I can't imagine that any Surgeon would just cut without some type of education.  That being said, I do believe that the requirements should be regulated by the Surgeon, not the insurance companies.  I had OPEN RNY in June of this year, and have lost 75lbs, and I guarantee you, my weight loss has nothing to do with the fact that I spent a year with the dietician.  I learned more from one visit with the surgeon, then I had learned in 1 year with the dietician. 

I am so happy for all of the patients out there who won't have to jump through all of the (insurance required) hoops that I had to.  May they also be blessed with a surgeon who will make sure that they are making an educated decision. 

Vicki