BCBS of Illinois

Hi, Do to a reduction of my staff I was unable to keep my group health insurance. Due to having diabeties I have insurance thru a state prrogram called ICHIP. This plan is administered thru BCBS IL. I have been looking into WLS for about 1 1/2 years. I have several good frriends that have had the surgery and sugest it. I am wondering if anyone here that has BCBS and had the surgery in he last year, if you had any problems with them and if you have any sugestions. Thanks for any help. Dahlfan

I fought ICHIP for 2 years.I finely got approved after 3 appeals.You need 1 year supervised diet by a doctor.That is strict.Do your homework.Start your dr supervised diet right away.what other co- morbidities do you have???

Hi, I have high blood preasure. I have diabetic neuropathy. Where i have lost the feeling in my feet due to having diabeties for years before I was diagnosed. Did your PCP write a letter to BCBS stating the medical necessisity of the surgery. I figured that if I had them write a great letter stating my problems and that i need this surgery to take care of the diabeties and stop any further damage I might be doing to my body. What do you think Thanks jeff Mike

Sorry, no information for you but just wanted to welcome you to the board. I am real close to you in Itasca. Any questions that you may have feel free to put it on the board. I do have BCBS of IL PPO but I had my surgery in '03 as did my husband and we were approved right away because of medical necessity. BCBS is now requiring (with some policies) between 6-12 months of a supervised diet try.