BCBS PA - Highmark PPO Blue

Some questions if you have the same insurance.

1- Diet:  6 months with 7 visits or 6 visits? 
I have a LB friend attending a different program at Magee (same ins.) and she was told she only has to come for 6 visits (so 5 full months).  I'm reading here that most people do a full 6 mo. (180 days), so including the initial weigh-in that's 7 visits.  Which is it?  I'd love to cut a month off this as my 2 oldest graduate the next month, but I don't want to be denied.

2- Surgery Costs:
I've been told this is completely covered.  What costs did you have to pay as your copay/percentage for your surgery...I'm trying to get a ballpark of what to expect. 

3- Fills:
I've been told these are covered 100% as long as they are medically necessary.  What exactly does that mean and what documentation did you have to provide to get these covered?

I have highmark PPO blue also.  I just started the nutrition classes at Magee.  The nurse told me it was just 6 visits.  My first visit was December and my last will be in May.

I can't answer your last two questions yet since I haven't had my appointment with the surgeon yet. sorry :)

good luck!

I also have Highmark PPO Blue. I did 7 months total just to be sure they couldn't come back and say I didn't have 6 full months. I started the program at magee's as well, but decided I wanted the DS which no one in this area does. I will be traveling to Dayton for Dr Rita Anderson to perform my DS (as soon as I win my appeal with Highmark...see my siggy). Anyway, she is in-network and as I understand it, it will be covered 100%, at least that's what my booklet says. I'm assuming there will be co-pays, but that should be minimal.

As far as fills go I don't know because I never did more than basic research on the band. If you call them, they should be able to tell you what constitutes their definition of medically necessary. Highmark BCBS is notoriously difficult to deal with when it comes to anything that has to do with bariatric surgery..they don't pay for anything unless you practically force them to.