Anthem HIP and gastric bypass

Hello everyone! I have a date of March 5th for my 4 hour initial consult for gastric bypass at the st vincent bariatric center of excellence in Carmel. I think they will be doing a psych eval and Im not sure what else??? Anyway, I am wondering if anyone else on here had anthem healthy indiana plan and how long it took for approval? I have heard 6 months, but I have also heard 3. My bmi is 52 and I have an arrhythmia that has worsened over the past year and my cardiologist believes my weight is causing it and that is why he referred me for the initial consult. I get worn out easily and my back and knees hurt all the time! I am really hoping that it won't be the 6 mths. I just wondered if anyone had any experience with this insurance and also with this center, thank you!!!!

Ask your insurer for all the information for what is needed to get approved. I got sent a very detailed list of what I needed to do and for me it was six months. It also all depends on how your specific plan was set up.

For those that were approved quickly what managed provider did u have? Anthem or MD wise? Or could it be some have less to lose? I'm in the process of picking. 

Thank you!

just call them and ask.  You'll want to make sure you know all that they require (not just the surgeon) so you're not stuck waiting needlessly.

I called the insurance company and they werent very helpful. They just told me medically necessary and I asked what else and they told me to ask my doctor.

They should have a written policy concerning Weight Loss Surgery. My insurance Co sent me the link to the policy.

I am on my very last step. They told me once my last paper is turned in that the insurance should approve me within 2 weeks. Heres what I did.

*go to a seminar

* completed a 6 month medically supervised weight loss accessment.

During that time I was prescribed 2 weight loss meds that obviously didn't work (phentermine & contrave) 

*obtain a paper from Dr. Saying you've been drug, tobbaco & alcohol free for a year

* turn in a years worth of medical records

* pay Louisville's Norton weight mgmt center $300 cash to have a lifetime of therapy and nutritionist and checkups for it (required)

* that same day I seen a nutritionist, nurse & therapist which is required for documents.

* had my doctor fill out the checklist form saying my lungs were good and my Heart was ok (I had an abnormal EKG which I'm going next week to a specialist to hopefully see if he will approve me)

After that  I turn in that paper, attend a 4 hour pre op learning class and once that's done she said i should be scheduled in within 2-3 weeks.

Best of luck :)

What were your results? How much longer was it till you were approved? ...  And what specific hip plan did you have? 

I also am scheduling for Carmel and pray it is not 6 months