BCBS TN Insurance question

Hello, I have been reading this site for awhile and have learned many things. I am hoping to have Lapband surgery and am trying to get all insurance needs accomplished. Has any of you used BCBS TN for LapBand? If so, what did you have to do to get approved? This insurance does cover Lapband but I am trying to find out what I have to do for approval. Thanks You

The best thing for you to do is contact the customer service number on the back of your insurance card. Since every BCBS plan is different, the requirements for your specific plan may be very different from what someone else had to do. I have BCBS of MN and even they have changed requirements since my surgery 4 1/2 months ago. Even though I knew that my specific plan covered WLS I still called customer service to find out exactly what kind of hoops I was going to have to jump through. My paperwork was submitted on December 19, 2005 and I was approved January 3, 2006. Not bad considering we were right on top of the Christmas & New Years holidays. I can tell you that MOST insurance companies will require: proof of past diet attempts - I provided copies of my Weigh****cher weekly weigh in books from the last time I tried them. psych eval - the surgeon's office should help you set this up a letter of medical necessity from your PCP - if he can also document your weight for the past 5 years and any diet attempts he knows of that will help. BCBS now requires a 5 - 10 percent weight loss prior to approval - This is a new requirement they have recently added. Good luck! I wish you a speedy approval. Susan

I had lapband in December 05 at Vabderbilt I have BCBS of Tn I was approved the first time I believe you have to be 100 overwight and have have least 2 co-mobalities(sp) you know like high blood pressure, sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes etc Good luck Tammy

Sarah, I just finished my time with BCBST but mine is RXY. I agree that you should contact BCBS and find out for certain what they require. Things changed in the middle of mine and fortunately I didn't have to follow the new rules, I was "allowed" to follow the old rules. Hate to change the rules in the middle of the game. good luck to you. Mara

Thanks Gals, You have given me some great info as well as confirming that I am starting to do the right things. What If I don't have 5 years of diet info, do I have to wait another year or two? I am looking at January '07 to have the surgery so I am starting my "diet" now. I am also scheduled to see a nutritionist (per my Dr.) Is this a good thing or should I be seeing my regular Dr. instead? What I am afraid of is that when January arrives and I have done what I thought I should there may be new rules that in turn postpone the surgery. I was researching Dr. Morton and it appears he had done more lap band surgery's in the Nashville area than most. Has anyone had their surgery performed by Dr. Morton? Thanks everyone for your great advise. Thanks!