*Kim*'s post got me wondering what other insurance companies

are requiring for diet? Please tell me who your insurance carrier is and what their diet requirements are....ex. BCBS/none or Aetna/6 months etc... Im thinking this information may come in handy down the road. Thanks in advance for responding.

Hi Colleen, I am checking into the bi-pass for my daughter and since Jan 06 bcbs does require doc supervised dieting. Renee

I too had to have one year's worth of documentation plus a letter from my doc. Hope this help!

Katie, which insurance company do you have?

sorry, it's bcbs ppo -pretty basic from what I understand. It took a while for approval but they never denied me and the surgeons clinical coordinator did all the work to put my "stuff" together.

Colleen, I have BCBS through Pfizer. I mention who it's though because Pfizer offers us both BCBS and UHC. WLS is automatically covered through both plans - only requirement is that your PCP states it's medically necessary. Sheryl In the Zoo

I had to do a year of dr. supervised dieting and I have BCBS. Once that was done, it was no holds barred and smooth sailing! Good luck. Tiffany

Just remember, Colleen. If it goes like mine, then you will get a hearing date and you will get the opportunity to say anything you feel is important to them or that you didn't get to include in your appeal..so don't worry TOO much about that. I am just so glad I listened to everyone who told me that I needed to attend the hearing. IF i get approved, I would say that was a big factor as to why. Once you shake hands with someone and look them in the eye they become a real person..not just a binder, or a picture, or a voice on the phone. So hang in there... maybe we'll be approved and moving on together!!!

Hi Colleen, I have BCBS community blue PPO and they do not require supervised diet documentation. Once my policy was effective, my Dr.'s office called the same day, gave them the procedure & diagnosis code, and we had pre-approval over the phone. Best of luck to you!

With Aetna, you can do the 6 month supervised diet I think with your own PCP, or you can do the 3 month surgeon program with diet, exercise and behavior modification. That's the one I did and it aided me very much with sticking with the program after surgery. The surgery is just a tool and it's only as good as the person using it. I think they improved ME with the 3 months on that program. Helped me a lot to be ready for the life after WLS. Pam You can look up the requirements on: www.aetnanavigator.com the clinical policy bulletin 0157