How long was your "process"?

it took about a year for me, but that's because:

1) I had to change insurance companies because my former one didn't cover bariatric surgery, so I had to wait about six months before I was officially under the new policy. I used the interim time to do my six-month supervised diet, so I had that out of the way before I was officially admitted to the bariatric program.

2) I started pre-op classes and other requirements (e.g., sleep study, stress test) in January, and probably could have been scheduled for surgery in March or April, but I worked in education at the time (I'm now retired), so my supervisor wanted me to wait until the semester was over before having surgery. So I had it the first week of June (in 2015)

I am seeing anywhere from 6-18 months. I couldn't imagine having to change the insurance company mid-process. BUT, you used your time wisely!

My mom was a teacher, so I get the "Can you do it during summer" ordeal... (Insert eye-roll)

Assessment appt on 8/6, surgery on 2/14. There was even an insurance Change right in the middle but I stayed on top of the insurance company and bariatric centers requirements and didn't lose any time as a result.

Awesome! Speedy and I'm happy there were no hiccups!

Hi Dee_Caprini,

This was my 3rd WLS sleeve to gastric bypass with the same doctor and since i was going in for medical reasons (Gerd) i didn't have to do all the extra pre-ops.. The only thing i had to do was Medical Clearance.

I literally walked in for my consult with my surgeon January 6, 2020 and had surgery January 30, 2020.

My insurance doesn't give me problems at all..

I'm 10 days out feeling great and going in for my 1st follow up with doc and nutritionist tomorrow! back to work Tuesday..

Good Luck!

If I knew how to add a gif photo... "BOOM" would cover this comment! You are one of the first I've seen where insurance didn't provide additional stress to the mix! I hope your first day back today was not to hectic!

Hi Dee,

Not hectec but extremely tired my boss who is the only one who knows i had the r n y let me close my office door and take a nap..

I am down 20. 2 lbs from when i left from hospital (they pumped me with alot of iv)

and down 9. 2 lbs since the day of surgery

Good Luck

For my VSG, I had orientation in August and surgery in December. I had to do a 3-month supervised diet, then other pre-op testing.

My revision was due to GERD so insurance approved very quickly. My surgeon just had to write a note that my reflux wasn't responding to medication, and the approval was received a few weeks after my first appointment. The whole process took two months.

Glad the revision approval process didn't take long. I have a friend in my support group fighting tooth and nail.

I was very fortunate. Saw an old friend in Walmart June 2014. He looked great and and I noticed all the weight he lost. He told me about this "sleeve" thing they do with your stomach. I checked in with my Dr and he was more than happy to write a letter to my insurance company with the years of dieting and different program. Being that I met the co-morbidity's I was approved almost right away and had surgery August 26,2014! At the time I think I had either OXFORD or CIGNA as my Insurance (NJ)- I forget? So for me-it was about 3 months! Did not realize how hard it could be until my friend who started around the same time as I-just got approved by his insurance company last summer-5 years later!!!! I now have AETNA, so who knows if they would have approved me?