Hi All! Newbie Pre-Op!

Hi Everyone, I am Nichole 26 married with toddler twins! Yeah my life is really busy. I just got back from Vegas on Vacation. I started my WLS journey right before I left. And now that I am back I know more and more this is what I want to do. I have BCBS out of MI for Insurance and they are requiring a 6 month PCP supervised diet. So my 2nd month appt is 2nd week of March. I have my surgeon appt on april 14th. I hope that they say I have done all my homework and they can try submitting my info earlier to insurance. lol a girl can only dream right. August would truly be the last of the 6 months. So maybe a Sept09 surgery?

What kind of hoops did you have to go through? Does anyone have BCBS for insurance? Any help is always appreciated!

well i have Atena as my insurance and the first dr. i went to they said Aetna would cover it but I later found out that it was a lie and if i stuck with him ided have to pay. Also I was having to pay for my nutrition appointments and my mom said that hers where covered by our insurnce at the dr. she was at. I went to her dr. and by that time I had all my nutriotion done I just had to give them that paperwork and the thing saying i had my psyic eveluation and submit my medicle records. Then I waited a few weeks they said I was approved and had my surgery in december of 08. I started all this in may. hope that answers your qustion on hoops i had to go through.

Hi there! I also have BCBC but its of Western NY, so I dont know how much help that is. I had to provide 5 years of a documented diet history. For me all that meant was the dates of my low fat/low calorie diets combined with Cardio and things like Weigh****chers, etc. Nothing had to be medically supervised. There are a lot of people on here that had to do that though. Hope they can help!

 Welcome!  

I won't be much help with the insurance but I have a toddler myself, so I understand the busy busy lifestyle! 

Glad you joined us!

~Emily~

Hey Nichole!  Welcome to the board...  I have Anthem Blue Cross - PPO and did not have to the 6 month thing.   Actually - it's been pretty easy and a fast process considering.  I had been researching lapband for well over a year and then in Jan - I attended my first "informational seminar".  I left there wanting the RNY.  After more research - I have elected VSG as my WLS and have been scheduled for a March 30th op date.  So... not that much jumping considering.

I wish you all the best in your WLS adventure...

-To Be Me Again

hey wellocme to the board!! good luck
hugs
mariana.

Hey Nichole!!! Welcome! Wow, those twins must keep you super busy. And welcome back from Vegas. It's one of my favorite vacay spots and I'm going back in May.

As for insurance, I fought mine (BCBS of IL) for fourteen months. It was not a pleasant journey, but I think I'm stronger for it. I was required to do the 6mo PCP "diet". It didn't work (didn't lose a pound), but I did it...along with various other hoops I had to jump through.

If you need help/support with your insurance approval, let me know. I kind of got a crash course in how insurance companies work with GBP patients. I hope your approval goes much smoother than mine.

Again, welcome.

OoOO my goodness 14 months. What took so long? What happened. I am all ears when it comes to these darn insurance hoops!

Hi Nichole,
    I have BCBS out of California. All I had to do was submitt a diet history and a letter from my pcp saying they fully support my decision and will help me in any way possible. Sorry about the 6 month diet, but dont worry it will go by so fast! I started this back in the end of Oct and I'm having surgery next month! Use those 6 months to learn as much as possible it will really help! Keep us posted and use this website its a big help!

I have been on these boards awhile, and dont count anything I say as factual just pure observation...but I have kind of noticed that those who are in the 6month program tend to overall have a shorter waiting time for their surgery...and I obviously know that from doctor to doctor we all have different stories, but the waiting period I had from my first seminar to my surgery date was one day over a year wait. I had a lot of appointments that had far out waiting times because my surgeons office was always and still is very busy. So don't let it get you down at all even though it may seem like it sucks and you want to now now now haha...it really is a blessing in disguise.