Question:
Has anyone had this situation?

I got my referral approval letter today. It states that before they would consider the surgery I have to document six months of medically supervised dieting. They go on to recommend the program thru my medical group. I feel that this requirement is extreme! Has anyone else had this required of them, and if so, have they been able to get around it? I refuse to put off this surgery for six months of MORE dieting that will just end in failure like all the other ones!    — [Anonymous] (posted on October 19, 1999)

October 19, 1999
They almost all do that. We had some records of Julie's diets from the past and recorded them on paper. That is all we had to do to pass that part of the test. Jennie Craig, Slim fast, and some others, then showed how she gained back and more. That was the end of that, your doctor should have had you ready for this before the papers went in. Are you sure your doctor has done this before? That is the second most important thing they should have told you before any thing else. That would be like trying to buy a new house without filling in a loan paper. This should have been on the first filing so insurance can tell it is out of control for you. Stuff like this makes it harded to prove your need for the surgury. Good Luck ;Julie Email if you have time. ( [email protected] )
   — JULIE S.

October 19, 1999
My insurance company also wanted a history of my diet progression. I had been to doctors for diet plus a nutritionist plus OA, Weight Watchers etc. If you have been to the doctor for any kind of weight loss program, you might use that. Good Luck
   — snicklefritz

October 19, 1999
Hello! Most insurance company's require some type of diet history. Mine wants 5 years worth; 3 being medically supervised & 3 being documented supervised (JC, WW, etc). I understand what you feel about "dieting again"; however, see if you have any medical records & diet records from the past. Also, make a list of all unsupervised diets, books, videos, tapes, etc. Show them & prove to them that you've been this route before. Good luck! Peri
   — Peri B.