Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama - PPO

I live in KY and have BCBSAL insurance through my employer - whose home office is in AL. I am just beginning the process toward WLS and would like to avoid unnecessary delays. How has your experience been in dealing with them? Here is what I know: Regardless of the state of residence - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama (PPO) has specific guidelines and criteria that must be met prior to approval for Gastric Bypass Surgery, listed below: 1. The patient must enroll in and complete a physician supervised weight loss program for a duration of six months in the immediate six months prior to request for approval. (Only 3%-5% of patients maintain non-surgical weight loss.) This actually requires SEVEN consecutive monthly visits. The diet should not be ADA (Diabetic) because that is considered treatment for Diabetes and not Morbid Obesity. Height, Weight and BMI should be documented each visit. 2. The patient's body mass index (BMI) must be at least 35 with significant co-morbidities or at least 40 without significant co-morbidities. 3. The patient must have suffered from morbid obesity for at least three years prior to request for approval. This must be proven via documentation over the past three years. 4. The patient must not have smoked within eight weeks prior to surgery. 5. Patients must also be at least 18 years of age. Thanks in advance, Fiona :-)