Scared and having anxiety over Insurance Approval

I read here at OH quite a bit but haven't posted. Today I'm freaking out because I saw a dietician and she said that I can't gain any weight because insurance would turn me down. I'm doing the 6 month supervised diet my insurance company requires and I believe I've gained 16 lbs since I started in November. Now I'm freaking out about the 16 lbs and I am afraid to eat. If I could loose weight by dieting wouldn't I have already done so? Can you share with me how your supervised diet went?

I also had to do the 6 month diet. I gained weight and I was approved! Don't worry about that. Try your best. Perhaps you should post your insurance company info and someone might know how picky they are and can better inform you. LEt me know if you need anything else.

Mickie the reason most insurances will not approve if you have gained on the 6 month supervisoed diet they feel that you can't follow a given diet even supervised, how would you commit to the criteria you must follow after surgery.   That is their rationale not saying I agree with it but thats it in a nut shell. Hope this helps  VIcki

It depends on the policy.  Some require you to lose a certain amount or percent, others just require you to participate in the 6 month diet. You can find out from your insurer, you might need to speak with 10 people on the phone, but keep asking for the specifics. Bonnie

Hi Mickie... I don't know about the gaining weight thing while on the 6 month program... but my advice is make sure EVERYTHING gets documented.... I went though the 6 month program to find out that my primary hasn't been documenting as they should and I may have to do it ALL over again.... From now on... I am going to ask for a copy of documention from every appointment... Best of luck to you :) Kellie

Thanks all. It is just I have never been able to lose weight no matter what I've done. I managed to stay the same by doing quite a bit of exercise but I ended up over stressing my feet and knees. I saw a different dietician this time as she was covering for my normal. I've been keeping a food journal but this gal didn't believe I was putting everything down.  These dieticians are connected with the bariatric surgeons so everything is pretty well documented. My insurance is a privately funded and managed through MVP heath care (out of NY). So it is anyone's guess. I am paying for Cobra with my MSA. I was really hoping to have surgery in July. I think I've just been in denial about insurance issues. I'm tempted to pull the money from my retirement account and pay for it myself.

Hi Mickie, I wanted to tell you about my experience. I had BCBS of Illinois last year. I completed the six-month diet and everything else that I was supposed to do and sent it in. My policy did not state that I had to lose weight on my diet, but then they denied me because they said that I didn't lose any weight on the diet (I actually gained about 6 lbs.). I tried to fight it myself, but soon after, I lost the insurance coverage, so now I am starting over. Thank God I now have an insurance company that does not require a diet. However, I will have to keep my insurance through Cobra for a while until surgery is approved and over with. If you don't mind my asking, how much are you having to pay for insurance through COBRA? I'm a little worried about that part! Who knows how long it will take for approval and surgery?!?! I pray that your insurance company does not have specifications regarding the weight loss during the diet and that all goes well for you! Just don't give up!!! : )

Seems pretty stupid doesn't it. If we could have lost weight through diet do they think we'd be having surgery that comes with... nevermind, I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir. My COBRA costs about 500 a month. However even without the surgery it pays for itself in medications and doctors visits.

Well, I don't have to worry about the insurance turning me down because my surgeon did. I thought it was my insurance that required the 6 month diet but yet the surgeon won't do it because I didn't lose weight. I give up.