Ready to get the ball rollin'

Hey Everyone! I have been looking at this website for years and finally decided to write something. I'm a 27 year old female and during my lifetime, I've lost and regained over 200 pounds! I've even trained for and finished a 26.2 mile marathon before! Most people are shocked when I tell them that because I am so heavy. It seems that I am very sucessful at loosing weight but, I always regain every bit of it plus more. I feel as if my struggles with weight have caused me to miss out on most of my life. I'm fed up and desperate to find an answer. I've been researching weight loss surgery for years but, never had ANY support from friends or family. I just got a new job and found out that my insurance does cover the surgery and I'm ecstatic! However, I know that the road to "approval" can be a long and hard one but, I'm ready to fight!!!! I have United Health Care Choice Plus. If anyone out there can give me ANY adivce it would be VERY MUCH appreciated!!!

Get all of your pre-op testing done and you should get approved.UHC approved me in 2 weeks after paperwork was submitted to them. Only took me 2 months to get all pre-op testing done. Good luck

Hi Laurie- I have the same UHC plan as you. I'm going through the process of all of my pre op's, the last one being on the 22nd of this month. I'm going to call and see if I can get an earlier appointment for that one. I am also very impatient. Have you chosen a Dr. yet? I would do that first because all of them have different requirements. All that UHC requires is a 5yr. weight history and morbid obesity. It seems a lot of people have had success getting approved through UHC, I hope the same for both of us! Keep us posted and Welcome Wendy

Hi Laurie, I have UHC and they are wonderful. They do require 5 years of recorded weight history from your doctor's. My PCP had to fax copies of recorded weight from the actual chart (not written down) from my last 5 physicals. I was approved in 2 weeks. The good news is most of the bariatric surgeon's know the insurance carrier's requirements and send that paperwork with the request. Don't let anyone tell you you are taking the easy way out. This is a wonderful tool, but it is not easy! But I must add it certainly works! Have you found a doctor? Have you decided on which procedure you want? Many blessings on your journey! Diane

Good luck with the insurance stuff Laurie. I can't comment on UHC because I don't have that, but if you follow your doctor's instructions, you'll be fine. Their insurance person is probably very familiar with your plan and what it requires. In the meantime, start walking and losing as much as you can on your own. It will make your recovery sooooo much easier. Take care and keep us posted. ~Ellen

Hi Laurie- I live here in Hampstead. I am currently getting ready for my surgery. I have all the paperwork in, attended WLS Support Groups, met with nutritionist. I am required to meet a certain weight, as required by my doctor, so I am currently 20 lbs down, moving towards taking off the last 10 lbs required so I can have psych evaluation and wait for approval. I also have UHC, and I called them before I started everything to be sure they covered WLS and was told yes, with all the requirements met...AND a minimal co-pay! I am having Dr. James Harris in Wilmington do my surgery. If you haven't yet chosen one, atleast meet with him and I think you'll be impressed. Let us all know how things progress for you. ~GOOD LUCK~ Mare

Hi everyone! Thanks for all of your replies to my post and all of your great adivce.... Today I was speaking to a girl that I work with who had the surgery last year and she told me that our company just changed the policy this year to EXCLUDE surgery!!!!! So, just to confirm, I called UHC back and I had two different people tell me that it is NOT covered under my plan! I had heard that UHC now gives companies the option of covering it or not..... Needless to say, I am devistated. It seems that I am always one step behind it.... I feel like those people in the new UHC commerical that keep walking and walking and never get where they are going...Now, I am thinking of other options..... Such as a loan. Does anyone out there have ANY advice or suggestions about financing the surgery? Lap Band or Bypass ( I haven't decided which one yet) Thanks Again! I think I'm going to become addicted to this message board!!!

Laurie- Sorry to about UHC. It sounds to me that a lot of people that post on here, whether or not they are ins or self pay, say "It's the best thing I've ever done!" and even wish they had done it sooner. I know that I wish I would have thought about it sooner rather then letting my weight determine what I do in life. Best wishes and keep up posted on what you decide to do. Wendy