Question:
Need feedback on 6 month supervised weight loss program...
and just wondering how that is suppose to work. I have almost done everything on the list of tests that I am suppose to have. I do need to still do my sleep study. I feel that it's kind of a catch 22 with the 6 months supervised program with that documentation. If you lose any weight that lowers the BMI and thus I may be denied the surgery. Right now my BMI is 37 almost 38. Any feedback about this would be much appreciated. Thanks. — bomoni727 (posted on September 27, 2006)
September 27, 2006
I think the insurance companies are ridiculous to require these programs.
They want to make sure you know how to "diet"...then you lose
weight and your BMI is too low! I am lucky because I got approved based on
the psych eval and nutritionist report. I guess my insurance co. knows
that I have diabetes and sleep apnea and all the meds I am taking...it
would be cheaper in the long run for them to approve the surgery vs. what
it will cost them down the line!
— Sheri A.
September 27, 2006
Well I belong to a support group, and from what I have heard from some of
them, some didn't lose any, some gained. My BMI was high enough that losing
the 30 lbs. hasn't hurt me. My BMI is still 51. Most of the surgeons like
you to lose a little weight it will help with the surgery. Heck if nothing
else, it will be a 6 month waiting period, which sucks, just don't lose
any weight. My doctor told me that it was my choice to lose or not to lose.
His job was to give me the information that I will need to use after my
surgery. What to eat, and how much. Good Luck.
— Sheryl H.
September 27, 2006
I used to work for an insurance company and they used the six month
supervised weight loss requirement as a tool to show that you can be
disciplined to go to the doctor visits, make an attempt at eating right,
and to give you a few months to think about this great decision in case you
might back out. They didn't look at total weight lost, that you were or
weren't working on your diet. They were looking at the big picture. They do
realise that traditional diets aren't working or you wouldn't be
considering this surgery.
Good luck.
— oceanrayne
September 27, 2006
Hi,
I had to go through the 6 month waiting period. The las person was right,
they just want to see how disciplined you are. i lost nothing in that six
month time. They requested the Dr.'s office notes and I was approved in a
matter of days. Sometimes we have to jump throught the hoops to get what
we need. Good luck.
— camille1956
September 27, 2006
I'm another one that didn't lose any weight during my 3 month supervised.
Quite frankly, I was being told all the same things I've always been told
and hadn't worked. It did get me motivated to start working out, but if I
lost some fat, I gained it in muscle weight b/c I still didn't lose weight.
My surgeon liked that I was exercised and I went on a one-meal a day/Slim
fast diet in the month prior to surgery to lose 10 pounds and shrinky my
fatty liver.
— KC
September 30, 2006
My insurance (BCBS of IL) was stinky. I had to do 12 mo. & when I went
to my PCP, it had to be the First thing written in her notes & the
First code she used to descibe our visit. Then we could talk about anything
else on my mind. I did it & I'm working on my appeal letter right now!
— asinmouse
October 3, 2006
My insurance required me to go on a 6 month supervised diet before they
would give me approval. I thought, I have done every diet out there and
they haven't worked, so why try again. I talked to my PCP and she just told
me to come in her office every month to weigh in and she would document it.
She too said it was a crazy idea, but the insurance just wanted the
documentation, so that is what we did. After my 6 months, they reviewed it
again and I was approved within a couple of weeks. Don't worry about trying
to lose weight during the 6 months, they just want documentation from a
doctor. I didn't diet during my 6 mo. at all. I just weighed in. I never
showed any weight loss in any visit.
— teedegee
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