BCBS of MAss?

Does anyone have this ?                     I called and all they told me was to send in the authorization application, on the website it does not say anything about prior diets, supervised diets, etc. Says BMI over 40,  co morbities(sp)          with a BMI of 35. I  have heard some Insurance Comapnies require 5 yrs of high BMI , 6 months of supervised diets?

i have bcbs of il i think they pretty much say the same you need to have the 5 year history then i had to go through a 6 month medicaly supervised  diet

I have bcbsma.  I was told I was covered with a bmi of 40 and at least one co-morbidity.  They did not require a diet history.   They told me over the phone that this was the case, so you should be able to get all the answers you want from a  phone rep.   I worked with the surgical weight loss team at Emerson in Concord and when they finally faxed over the request for approval they received approval in one day.  My surgery was September.   Good Luck! Julie

I have mass bc/bs.  I didn't have any problems at all.  Everyone who is overwieght has done the sup. diet.  Weigh****chers, SlimFast, Herbalife etc.  All of that counts.  I was very close to the bottom of accepted BMI (37).  I have bad knees (one surgery) and diet controlled diabetic.  Once I had all my paper work in (5months).  I got approval in 1 week.  I had my surgery December 14.  Go for it.  Go to support groups and any informational meetings you can find.  They give great information.   Good LUCK>>>>>

call back up with your ID card in hand and ask them specifically. write it down. They also will give you an ID number  / a ticket number for the phone call. write that down, too.  You really can't compare one person's blue cross to another's for their employer's plan may be specific, or may be a self funded insurance that blue cross is managing.

I also have BCBS of MA and I never even spoke to them.  All my paperwork was submitted by the Weight Loss Group at Lowell General Hosp. and within a few days I had approval and a date.  My surgery was Dec. 10th.  I'm still struggling a little but hope things change when I see the weight coming off.    Good Luck with your journey !

Carol

 

i had my surgery 1 year ago with bcbs... no probs... had to go through the dietician, the shrink, the surgeon and a letter of support from my primary care, but i started the process in august and had my surgery by december.... i was borderline on bmi with comorbities (elevated, but not medicated blood pressure, bad knees, cholesterol, and something else.... )  nothing significant though... did have history of diets... they look for trying!   good luck...

I have BCBS of MA (HMO BLUE). I didn't need the 6 month supervised weight loss but I needed a 5 yr history of being overweight and needed a BMI over 40. I got my approval letter last Tuesday.  I went to see my Doctor today @ Brigham and Womens and need to lose 10-12 lbs so my surgery that was suppose to be next week is now the end of February.  :( Karen

Karen...I am thinking of having the Lap Band procedure at Brigham....saw your post.  What physician did you use and are you satisfied? any info you can share would be wonderful.  my regular email is [email protected] kim

Hi Ladies! I was just popping over to see if anyone had comments about BCBSMA. My insurance just changed to this at the beginning of the year and I wanted to see how people fared with approval. Last year I had UHC and was denied, I have a feeling it was because it was towards the end of the year and they knew my husbands employer dropped them and they just didn't want to pay! I did appeal with no luck. I went to my surgeons yesterday and got an updated weight and they were going to fax my package in today. SOOOOOOOO NERVOUS! I just want this to happen! Good luck to everyone, I'll let ya know how I make out. Wendy