Insurance: What kind of uphill battle do I face in getting approved?
I suggest a different approach. Go to a couple Free Public Info meetings for doctors in your area. There are plenty in Las Vegas. They are the first step. Their office insurance specialists may know your policy requirements more than you do. You may or may not need a PCP referral. Many surgeons will monitor you pre-surg diet. Remember - it is the doctor that gets your pre-cert for surgery, they submit the paperwork, not you. You have to do all the stuff, but the dr and his/her office staff can make it clear sailing (like mine was) or a pain in the ass (like some people have had). So my first step would be to find a dr who I could trust to muck around my insides and has a well-run office that can get the paperwork done.
The office staff will help you identify the ducks and then help you line them up. I would suggest not going to where your sister went unless they have improved.
Best of luck - get the ball rolling - you cannot get your own ducks lined up, you work with the surgeon and their office staff. Until you contact the surgeons, you are just making waves, you are not making progress.
Also, doing the pre-WS diet with your surgeon can give you a peak at what their post-WLS support is like. Good Luck, Get Going!!
Sharon 
Don't drive yourself crazy. Don't try to ru**** takes as long as it takes, and you should use that time to start doing things you will need to do anyway. Jumping into surgery tomorrow, next week, or even next month will not be the best thing for you in the long run.
Insurance companies have requirements. Surgeons have other requirements. Scheduling can be a long wait.
You've gone this far. Take it one step at a time, do things to ensure your long-term success, and be patient. You'll remember none of this a couple of years from now.
6'3" tall, male.
Highest weight was 475. RNY on 08/21/12. Current weight: 198.
M1 -24; M2 -21; M3 -19; M4 -21; M5 -13; M6 -21; M7 -10; M8 -16; M9 -10; M10 -8; M11 -6; M12 -5.
Here's a great read: http://www.obesityaction.org/educational-resources/brochures -and-guides/oac-insurance-guide that might answer a few Q's.
Best wishes to you. It was the best gift I ever gave myself. Hope you will soon be announcing your date.
the info everyone gave you is correct.
Most of all, every surgeon and every insurance is different. I had a very high BMI, but very low co-morbidites. I got approved first try within 24 hours with my insurance ( I am in CT), so I consider myself lucky.
As for your ducks in a row....you can't do that until you determine what your surgeon/insurance requires. A friend and I went to the same practice (different doctors) and we had different requirements due to past health history and insurance and the surgeons preference.....my advice is to take one step at a time and you WILL get there.
Good luck!
All of us who decided to have wls wanted to have it done ASAP....but it progresses at its own rate based on the insurers' and surgeons' requirements and scheduling issues.
Personally, I wouldn't change insurers just because of three month vs. six month "diet" .... because you still have all the other testing to do.
Don't look at it as an "uphill battle"... just go with the flow. It will happen. I went to orientation meeting 11/13 and had surgery 5/14.
Good luck!
HW: 380 SW: 324 GW: 175
In the big picture, three months vs. six months is 'the blink of an eye' .... but I understand what you're saying.
Do you have a PCP now? If so, are you having him "supervise your diet" ie, seeing him monthly and having him record your weight and noting in his records that he is overseeing your weight loss attempts now?
Again, good luck!
HW: 380 SW: 324 GW: 175
