My first app't is Monday with Dr Mattar! Insurance ?'s FEP BCBS-again-sry!

 Hi,

I have my first app't with Dr Mattar on Monday, 2-1.  I am very excited about it.  I spoke with BCBS this a.m. and they just said that doctor submits forms and they decide.  My BMI is about 38.  I asked how many co-mobidities do I need to have and they said there is not a set requirement, doctor just needs to submit records, etc.

Dr Mattar's office just called to let me know my insurance does cover WLS.  I asked about co-mobids, and my a-fib will prob. cover it.  I just had my sleep study and I do NOT have sleep apnea.  I asked about my plantar fasciitis and she said they will include that, but it is not a co-mobid.  I asked about arthritis (which I THINK I may have) and she said no, that is not a co-mobid as it is not life-threatening.  She said the only co-mobids are cardiovascular, diabetes (don't have) and sleep apnea (don't have).  The cardiologist had written on my discharge papers and my FMLA papers that along with a-fib I have hypertension - which I did not know I had.  Which I t hink if I do then I think I will have my two comobids.

Anyway - any words of encouragement.  I am getting so stressed about the approval more than the possibility of having surgery!  What's wrong with that picture!  lol

Thank you all for the great support!

BCBS FEP will cover it if your BMI is 40 or above with no comorbidities or at least 35 with 2 comorbidities.  Mine was hypertension and borderline Type II diabetes.  Of course the COPD helped too.  They just required that I follow the Bariatric Center Program, but didn't require a minimum 6 month program like some other insurance companies do.

You should be okay I have Federal BCBS and mine was covered and I had no problems I started the whole process in December of 08 and I had my surgery on Aug 10 of 2009.  There was the usual things you have to go through but no extra steps!

Hello I am also seeing Dr. Mattar. My first appt was in Jan also. I am planning on the VSG. My BMi is around 41. He has told me I need to lose 20lb prior to surgery. At this time I am having difficulty getting that done. Very frustrating but trying to keep at it. My psychiatric appt is next week. Have you had your class or seen the psychiatrist yet? Just feel like Im wading thru sand with this. Never known anyone to have this type of surgery.

 Hi

Well, I was sick on my first app't so I had to reschedule.  It is not set for 3-1-10.  In the meantime, I had gone to my cardiologist and he said I have no co--morbidities.  Everything is fine.  He feels that i should try again on my own and that the surgery would be too great a risk for me.  So, I am just very confused.  I have been sick this whole month with respiratory stuff so just eating weird now.

Anyway - let me know how it goes - I am just so confused - don't know what to do now.

Thanks & good luck!

Lynn