Insurance Question...

My daughter lives in Alabama but has BCBS of Michigan. She is in the very stages of researching WLS. Can anybody tell us the requirements for BCBS of Michigan? Thanks, Gina PS Happy Holidays from the unseasonably warm state of Alabama. (It was 71 degrees today).

BEST THING TO DO IS CALL BCBS AND ASK WHAT THEY NEED FOR APPROVAL FOR WLS. MAKE SURE THAT YOU GO WHERE YOUR SURGEON WANTS YOU TO GO TO OR YOU MIGHT HAVE TO DO THE TESTS OVER. GOOD LUCK!!! HUGS JUDY PS LOVE THE PUGS

Thanks for the reply. Gina PS Those arent my pugs but I do have two. When I bought them, I never dreamed we'd one day look alike... notice the loose skin on the face and neck. I'd flip my picture with the pug picture but I'm afraid people would die laughing.

oh heck go for it and see what reaction you will get rofllllllllll

Hi, I have BCBS of MI. (Comm Blue PPO). THEY REQUIRED: at least 1 year supervised and documented weight loss attempts by a physician. Letter of recommendation from my PCP I wrote about 4 pages of my documented weight loss history since I was 8 years old, failures and successes, and had to go see a Psychiatrist for a psych consult before I could meet my WLS. The more documentation of weight loss success and failure you have written out, the better. If she went to weigh****chers, or other places, have that documented on paper. Not necessarily signed by those places, just that she made attempts and what happened. I suggest starting with a physician referral to a WLS surgeon, then start working on the paperwork mentioned above. Feel free to email me for more questions! Good Luck! Stacey W 310/144 17 months post op today

Stacey, Thanks for the information. I had heard that they require a year of supervised diets but was hoping it was not true. She recently went to Weigh****chers but gained weight without exceeding their required points. She was average to moderately obese as a child but when she had children, she gained and didnt loose. She is only 5'2 so every extra pound shows. She is tired all the time and the weight is beginning to take it's toll on her health. She has already been in touch with her surgeon of choice so maybe we can get the ball rolling soon. (It looks like it's going to be a LONG roll though). Gina

barix clinic is the quickest way to approval. with blue cross of michigan

What is "barix clinic"? Gina

She would have to be going to Barix clinic. You might have knownthem in the pat as the FIrst Bartiatric treatment center, they are in Ypsilanti, she would have to be going to one of there dr.s I am sure for the insurance dept. to help you. They have a team of people that work on nothing but getting approvals. Thas why they have a speciality hospital for only weight loss patient here is there number if you need it 800-994-6677

I googled Barix Clinic and there does not appear to be one located near Alabama. We live in Alabama, not too far from Birmingham. I'm afraid Ypsilanti would be out of the question. Gina