Ins. changed diet from 3 mos to 6!

Two weeks. TWO FREAKIN WEEKS before I finished my 3 month diet, my surgeon's office calls me and tells me the insurance changed the policy from 3 months to 6 months.

I am devastated.

I really have worked hard. All of this and now I have to almost start over. With my metabolism, or lack thereof, I have to fight for every single pound I lose. Then I breathe and I gain it back.

I wrote to the surgeon's insurance lady and asked her to call the insurance and see if this new policy includes those who were already in the process. It doesn't seem right that I was a mere 2 weeks away from completion and now I have to comply to this new policy. I could understand patients having to follow the new policy after the new start date, but for those of us who started the process before this new policy... it doesn't seem right.


Anyway, I guess I need some lizards swung or something. I am so down. I had my entire life prepared and scheduled and somewhat ready for this huge life change. Now I have to change all my plans.

3 more months. 90 more days. Oh Lord help me.

Oh and for those wondrous insurance companies....

I totally hate insurance companies for pulling crap like this. Swinging lizards you can be grandfathered under the old "made up" standards.

--gina

Oh Kelly, Im soooo sorry.  My Insurance Co pulled a fast one with me too.   2 weeks before my surgeon was ready to submit my papers for approval, I received a notification that all bariatric surgeries have to be done at hospitals that are Center Of Excellence.  The hospital where I was going thru was working on getting their COE, but hadnt received it yet.  I was devastated and had to switch surgeons/hospitals.   Everything worked out in the end for me.   You'll get there Kelly.  Just keep your chin up and your eye on the prize.  Cindy

Swinging hun, hopefully you are grandfathered in, I know it is frustrating.. Hang in there.

That really Sux!  I'd get on the phone Monday and call the insurance company myself and make a big fuss and a lot of noise about it.  Perhaps even write a letter....

The squeaky wheel gets the grease they say!  Fight for what you think is right!

That stinks!  Hopefully the new rule wont apply to you since you're so far along.  Good luck.

You could probably appeal it. In CA, the Dept. of Managed Health Care always says they have to waive the 6 month diet requirement and now the ASMBS says it's not necessary either. However, the appeal would probably take as long as just doing another 3 months.

Kelly, I do hope you are grandfathered in and get it back down to 3 months but if not, look at it this way....it will give you and your dh time to settle into your new budget and get use to it before having to spend for protein and vitamins.

This may have been a blessing in disguise for your financial situation. Breathing room, in a way.

But my hope is you get it fixed and get back on track.

Liz

I am so sorry this happened to you!  I can understand as I was approved at the end of September but didnt have my surgery until this month.  That wait was very stressful and I had to lose 5% of my weight before being approved and had to try to maintain over the next (5!!!!) months.   But, I tried to use this time to read more, do research, as well as work on the emotional part of this journey.  I have to say I also enjoyed the extra time of being able to eat regularly especially over the holidays.  I was so frustrated though at the time about the delay.  I try to think that it all works out the way it was suppposed to and here I am almost 3 weeks post surgery.

Good luck fighting this....your surgery WILL happen.........

Hang in there!!!!!  

What a bummer! I hope you call and raise heck with the insurance company. Just keep reminding yourself that you will get there. Three months will pass, and in the interim, you can continue to prepare for this dramatic change in your life.

Good luck with this latest twist. Hang in there!
Amy