Insurance Question

I am in the process of getting approved for my WLS. Has anyone had to be on the physician followed diet for 6 consecutive months? Has anyone heard if there is a certain amount of weight loss that will mean a denial? I think I read on a blog somewhere that you can lose over 12 pounds in the 6 month period of time? Thanks! Becky

I had to have a diet history for 6 months too. What I did was go to my family Dr. & write the date, weight amount, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, & any medical problems that I had going on. The coordinator at Georgetown wrote it out in a format that my insurance took. I look at it as writting a resume: You don't want to lie but you want to word it so you'll get hired. I don't know how much weight will knock you out of being approved. You might could call your insurance carrier. Best of luck to you!!

Please don't tell my insurance company....but I told a couple of white lies on mine..LOL

Becky, It depends on your individual insurance company's requirements. I'm finishing my 6-month doctor-supervised diet next week, and my insurer is Humana. Their requirements are that the final weight not exceed the starting weight and that the final BMI not be below 40.1. I've gained and lost throughout the 6 months, and the insurance coordinator of the Georgetown Bariatric center said that won't hurt me. I just have to make sure my final weight is less than or equal to my starting weight and that I don't drop below the acceptable BMI. I think I heard that BC/BS (or maybe it was BFH) denies if you lose more than 12 pounds during the 6-month diet. I guess they think that shows that you can lose and that means WLS surgery is unnecessary. We know that's naive on their part because most of us have lost and gained and lost and gained throughout our lives. I'll turn in my paperwork next week and hope I can get approved early in July. I wish you the best as you do your research and learn what you need to do. Kathy