New Here, wanting WLS

Hey Dawn - did you call?  What did you find out??

I had a rude awakening when I called mine back in August - had no idea about the 6 months of supervised diet.  I just thought I could go to the doctor and get on with it.  Laugh!!   So here I am just biding my time and waiting for my last dietician visit in march then they submit me for approval!  I have Blue Care Network also.

Hi Suzy!  I see we go to the WLS same office - my surgery will be performed by Dr. Schneider.  I got lucky, since my insurance just recently dropped the 6-month requirement.  I needed a referral letter from my primary doctor, a psychological evaluation and then to meet the criteria for WLS with a BMI of 40+.  Once I got all that in and the office sent my paperwork for approval, I literally got the approval the very next day (a Friday) and then on Monday I was called with a surgery date.  I feel very blessed to have things going so smoothly so far and I'm keeping my fingers crossed! 

Nice to meet you, Suzy, and hope to hear more from you!

Hi Everyone, I'm new here as well. 

I am scheduled to attend the "Is Bariatric Surgery Right For You?" informational meeting with Dr. Verseman on Feb 1.  I'm very excited!  I have a few questions:

My question is, how long does the entire process take (from initial informational meeting to surgery date)? 

I've already contacted my insurance BCBSM and their guidelines state that I need documented 12 months of a physician prescribed weight loss program.  Seriously?  Everytime I see my doctor we talk about my weight and she tells me yet again that I need to count calories & work out.  Will this suffice as documentation? 

Last question, what "approval" is everyone talking about?  BCBSM stated that I do not need prior approval to get surgery, but that my doctor must have the guidelined documentation on file (weight loss program, psych eval, documented risk discussion). 

Can anyone answer my questions?  I'm lost. . .

Thanks,
Angie

Angie - I have BCBSM as well, the PPO plan.  I was concerned about the "approval" process since everyone talks so much about it.  I went to meet the surgeon, talk about the additional steps necessary (endoscopy, psych eval, etc.) and then he was like "okay, we'll set you up with your required testing".  And I asked him -"What about getting approval from the insurance co.????????!!!!!"  He said with BCBS of MI  that basically as long as you meet the criteria (BMI over 40 or BMI over 35 with comorbidities) that they didn't even have to get it pre-approved.  It sounds like many insurance companies and even plans within the same company (such as different BCBS plans) may have different requirements, but everyone I've talked to at my surgeon's office says BCBS is the best of all the plans for approving the surgery.  Just what I've experienced/heard anyways... 
My husband and I both are having the surgery (once we get a date that is.)  We had all of our paperwork together for the visit with the surgeon on 1/2/10.  We're expecting a surgery date of late Feb, early March. 
Hope this helps.  :)  Good luck!
Cindy

Welcome Dawn - your story sounds familiar to many of ours!   It definitely sounds familiar to mine.  I want to live a different life than the one I have lived the last 44 years, but I also know it's going to be the biggest challenge of my life.  Just waiting for my surgery date has been an amazing emotional experience, one that has really caused me to look at why I'm doing what I'm doing, how I use food in my life, etc.  I'm confident I'll come out a stronger, healthier, happier person.  Feel free to send me a note anytime.  Best of luck to you!
Cindy

Dawn,  hands down, the best WLS in Michigan is Paul Kemmeter at Grand Health Partners in Grand Rapids:  Grand Health Partners.  You can call them and schedule yourself for their surgical orientation... no referral needed for that part and mandatory to begin the process with them.  You might as well get a referral for a sleep study as well, and get that out of the way, as it can take some time and will be required prior to your surgical consult.

Dr. Kemmeter is the head of Bariatrics at St. Mary's hospital, and performs all four major WLS options lap.

Please become well acquainted with the DS, as the cure rate for T2D is 98%+  (that is CURE, not remission, as you could possibly get with other WLS options).  The DS is also the WLS with the best statistics of keeping the most weight off LONG TERM.  If you're not familiar with it, you can find out a lot of information on the DS (including peer-reviewed medical studies) at:  DSFacts.com

We are all scared of this taking this step.... but it was the absolute best gift I ever gave myself!

  ~ Kimberley