BCBS ?????

I live in TN, but I am about to switch insurance to BCBS of Illinois PPO. Does anyone have this insurance??? I am looking to see how hard it was to get approved. I know one of the requirements they have listed is a 12 continuous month medically supervised diet, which is rediculous if you ask me Has anyone gotten around that?? Please if anyone has had any experience with this company, I would love to hear about it! Thanks

I have BCBS PPO and I had a very difficult time getting approved. I think alot about my stuff is in my profile, you can read about it. I had the 12 month supervised diet, but they are very difficult to deal with. I don't think there is a way around that...this is their criteria and they wont go around it. Good luck! Tricia

Thank you so much for the info. Looks like you overcame! I read your profile. Wow! I probably would have never thought to go through all that, but now I know!! I've read so many post under insurers in the IL site that said "approved on first letter". It gave me a little hope. I am switching to BCBS eff. Jan. 1, so I will get it going then. Hopefully it won't be so hard?? Did you have any medical problems? My BMI is 46, weight 270. Since I had my last baby my blood pressure has stayed up and I'm on medication and I think I have sleep apnea, but it hasn't been diagnosed yet.

Hi Michelle, I have BCBC of Illinois PPO. I was denied because I didn't have the medically supervised diet. They seem to be sticklers about this. The funny thing though... BCBC issued a letter of medical necessity for the surgery but then denied it because I didn't meet this one requirement. The CORI center, who I am having my surgery through, was pretty confident they would approve the surgery based on this initial letter. Needless to say, the CORI center was surprised and I was pretty devestated when it was denied. Go figure. Anyway, I have decided to finance the surgery. Good Luck! -Liz

Could you not have tried to get the diet documented? Or did you just not want to wait that long? When I found out that was a requirement, I went ahead and had my doctor put me on a diet. But, I was really hoping that there was a way around that? If I have to do a whole year of the diet, it will be next October before I can even try to get an approval again. Did they say you would be approved if you had that diet documented? I am so on the fence with this because I am having to switch insurance and I really don't want to switch if I know I won't be able to get an approval. It's such a tough decision. If I could afford it, I think I would just pay out of pocket too. It seems so much easier than going through all this!!! Good luck with your surgery and please if you have any answers to any of these questions let me know. Thanks - Michelle