BCBS of ND...Do they ALWAYS require a 6mth supervised diet?

I am curious if all people with BCBS of ND have to do a 6mth supervised diet?  I am just starting the process of having RNY.. Have a full physical scheduled and am attending Dr Bruderers informative session this month..will be making an appt for a psych eval this next week. I hate to be impatient but I have already done..WW, Atkins, Nutrisystem, Meridia ETC over and over the past 10yrs and am so ready to just do this..I really will be disappointed if I have to diet another 6mths in order to get approved. Would love to hear your personal experiences with BCBS of Nd. Andrea

I don't know if BCBS had different restrictions for different wls...I have the band and didn't have to do the 6 month supervised diet...I have to provide them with a detailed description of my weight lost attempts for the last 5 years with how much i lost with each attempt...I am what they call a light weight because my BMI was just at 40 when i got approved and i have just over 100lbs to loose...So i would say that if i don't need it then you shouldn't...The problem may come in what your plan requires compaired to what my did...Good luck on your journey...Keep us updated on how you are doing...

Everyone that I know has had to do the 6 month supervised diet.  It is a requirement before you can even submit for approval - supervised diet for 6 months, psych evaluation, surgeon consultation before any paperwork can be submitted.   I believe I heard that BCBS of MN just switched this to a 12 month supervised diet, so probably the 6 month isn't so bad.  I hear you - I had done every type of diet there ever was, but I needed to see a dietician in order for it to count, and it needed to be 6 consecutive months.  It actually goes faily quick - much quicker than I had anticipated. Good luck to you.  You can call BCBS of ND and ask what your specific plan requirements are, but I do believe it is across the board.

I, too, had lapband, and all I had to do was show I had tried everything under the sun, as you have, for the last 5 years. Your doc should be able to show your weight changes on your charts, which can help some. Good luck!

I guess I will have to wait and see..Ive heard so many different things. My Dr. had told me to write out my history..so maybe just maybe I will luck out. If not I guess I will have to learn some patience

I have BCBS of ND. I didn't have to do the 6 months diet rap. My doctors notes were sent into BCBS, I had to complete the psych eval and 3 months of nutrition classes ( which meet twice a month). Then I had to wait and meet with the surgeon. Papers were submitted to BCBS and approved with in 10 days. Mind you it all took approx 1 yr to complete, there  is what seems like a lull between appointments, maybe that is to test us and see if we are really serious about all this. Patience is the key and then all of a sudden poof your on the list. My surgery is set up for Aug 12th. Just a little more FYI- there are more "hidden" costs that you don't notice right away. In the end some of the psych eval is not covered. Only one nutrition class is covered, the rest are 62 bucks a session. The liquid diet prior to surgery(218.00) is out of pocket too. It is really helpful to go to the support groups held once a month,(some insurances require it at least 3 times prior to surgery). ALL these things are needed to be able to qualify for the surgery. There is no skipping over those. Hope this was helpful Kelly

I guess I will have to learn patience :) I go to the informative session in Bismarck on Tuesday and will fill out the necessary paperwork after..making my appt for my psych eval this week and have a full physical scheduled. I will check out the support group in my area soon too. Thanks for the info it is helpful.

Yeah, I felt I was in limbo a lot of the time. Did your regular doctor put in the referal for you? I guess I didn't have a full physical for this. I had just had my yearly check up tho, maybe that is why. I did not schedule my own psych eval. The bariatic clinic got all that taken care of for me,it all happened after I got the wad of paper work turned in. Might want to find out first if that be the case so that as much possible is covered under your insurance. If you go about it on your own it might be totally out of your pocket. Just an idea. Kelly

Good idea.  I will find out more after Tuesdays informative session. I have to travel 4hrs to see the Dr. who will perform the surgery. I know my physician did contact Bruderers office on where to start.  Heres hoping for everything to go smoothly.  Good luck with your upcoming surgery :) I hope everything goes smoothly for you.   Im definitely going to sign up for the support group here..Im sure I can learn a lot from people who have been through all of this.

Best of luck to you also! Anything worth doing is worth doing right. Keep in touch. Add me to your friends list so we don't miss each others important speed bumps Kelly