Hi everyone! I'm new

Hey everybody! My name is Crystal, and I live in Columbus,MS and I just wanted to say hello, and introduce myself. I'm orginally from Philadelphia,MS. I am having Roux enY surgery, and now I am going through all of the prep work. I have to do 6 month Physican supervised weightloss program (like Weigh****chers, and it has to be supervised) for insurance to pay for surgery. I have Blue Cross Blue Sheild of AL and they are paying for everything except for 225.00 so needless to say I got off pretty cheap there! Tootles!

Hi Crystal and welcome. I am very suprised BCBS of AL is paying for it. I heard they werent paying for any anymore AT ALL. Thats good to know that isnt true. It was bad news cause alot of Mississippians had BCBS of AL. How far are u into the supervised diet? I also heard Weigh****chers was not acceptable because it was not doctor supervised. I am wishing you good luck on this journey. It is very worth it! Welcome to the board and post often.

Hi! The deal with BCBS of AL is you either have to go to a doctor that borders AL or is in AL. I know Oxford is not in the network. I am using Dr. Gregory Adams in Decatur,AL he is with Liv Lite. They changed their criteria, and it is really hard to get approved. Weigh****chers is acceptable because it is a structured plan, however, you must go to your PCP every two weeks and weigh in, and he has to see you once a month, and I always bring my little WW booklet to show him I have lost weight and that I have been complying with the program. You also have to have 3years worth of weight documentation, like you being morbidly obese for at least 3 years. Basically all that is, is when you go to the doc and they weigh you, they just need that info from the past 3 years. Miss Kathy the manager at Decatur Bariatrics called my insurance and got this information in writing from them. Every plan is different. BCBS is my hubby's insurance and he has me under it, we both work at Columbus Air Force Base in Columbus, MS, and we are under the PPO network. Insurances can be such a PAIN but the key that I have found is do your homework, have you P's and Q's together, and KNOW for a fact what your policy covers and have it in writing, so there is NO WAY they can give you any BS about it. That's my plan of attack anyway! LOL!

Hi Crystal, welcome to the family. Boy do I know what you mean about the insurance drama, I am going through it right now myself. I also have BCBS but of Maryland and they wanted a year's worth of supervised diet. You pay your premiums religiously then have to fight to get services approved. It's a huge game. Best of luck. Sue

Hey everybody! Ya'll are so sweet! Thank you for making me feel welcome here! I just love this website, it so good to have when you are going through things like this. I I just have had something on my mind lately, and maybe I just need to stop being negative, but do y'all know of anyone that has died having this surgery that is around 27 (my age)? I have a 2 year old, and that does terrify me, I know the odd are something like 1 in a 1000 will die, but I know if I don't have the surgery there's almost a 100% chance of me dying an early death from heart disease or diabetes. For the most part have you guys that have had the surgery come out of it will little or very few problems? I belive that I will do well with this surgery, I guess its normal to have the jitters. This is a major life altering event. well have a nice evening! Tootles!!

HI CHRYSTAL !! welcome to our board, nice to have you ! Don't be a stranger and come often and post often. We love to hear from everyone !! ~Andie~

Hey Crystal!! I'm over at Conehatta! It's sooooo good to met you and have you here. I am glad things are moving right along! Please come back often and post lots!!!!! We are so pleased you are with us! Smoochies Arlies

Welcome to the board! I had surgery at Jackson 4-4-05 and I am dowm about 30 pds. Keep posting! Jane

Hello Crystal, glad you are joining us here. YOu will find lots of support here and make many friends. I had my surgery in January 2004. I had BCBS of AL. They paid for mine. And they do pay good, don't they? I only had to pay $750.00 after all the bills came in. $750.00 is not so bad considering the whole bill was around 18,000.00. I felt really lucky. Good luck to you. I hope you will come on here and post often with us. Melissa Taylor Lap Rny 1/15/04 277 to 136 -141 pounds

Hey Crystal, it is Melissa again. I forgot to mention in my earlier post that we are having a WLS Summer Bash in Hattiesburg at Kamper Park and Zoo pavilion on June 5 so we can all meet and get to know one another. We will be posting all of the details soon so be on the look out. We hope you will try and join us. Melissa Taylor