DENIALS??

HAS ANYONE BEEN DENIED BY BCBS NC AND IF SO WHAT WAS THE REASON??  MY CHOICE FOR WLS IS THE LAP BAND.  I HAVE A BMI OF 44 AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, WHICH I WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH.  MY BMI GOES FROM 36 TO 44 DURING THE LAST 5 YEARS, DUE TO THE FACT THAT I TOOK DIET PILLS AND LOST 25 POUNDS, UNHEALTHY WAY.  I JUST DON'T WANT TO DENIED BECAUSE I TRIED TO LOSE WEIGHT.  THANKS

Denials for bariatric surgery can happen for an assortment of reasons.  The principal thing that you want to do is to consider the options that your medical plan affords you in regards to bariatric surgery.  Either contact your insurance's customer care department to request a copy of an explanation of coverage or visit your insurance company's Web site to see if you can get information on bariatric surgery from there.  Typically, it is available under information listed for providers. If you meet the qualifications for bariatric surgery as listed on your explanation of coverage, then you should have no concerns on whether you are going to be denied.  Most insurance companies realize that people seeking the surgery will have years of undulating weight loss and will not use that information as an impetus to deny you.  Really, the goal is to get you to a healthy weight and a healthy lifestyle so that you can rid yourself of any co-morbidities so that you will not have to visit the doctor needlessly. I hope I was able to answer your question appropriately.

I have UHC and they just denied me because of this....  I had taken Phentermine for about 5 months 4 1/2 years ago and dropped about 20 pounds (bmi now 42 - bmi 4 1/2 years ago 35).   Now I really don't know what I can do.

WELL IT IS OFFICIAL MY WLS JOURNEY IS OVER.  I HAVE BCBS OF NC AND BECAUSE I TOOK DIET PILLS AND LOST 25 POUNDS I WAS DENIED.  OF COURSE, I CAN STAY THIS WEIGHT FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS WITH A BMI OF 40 OR ABOVE AND IT WILL BE COVERED.  GO FIGURE!!!!!!  THIS IS NOT THE END TO MY WEIGHT LOSS, I AM MORE DETERMINED TO LOSE WEIGHT.  GOOD LUCK TO ALL OTHERS!!