Question:
What exactly are the Insurance companies looking for w/ the 6 mnth diet

when they ask you to go on a 6 month diet are they looking to see if you lose some/alot of weight, which will make them think that you can do it yourself w/out the surgery or are they looking to see that you are at least trying. do they want to see that you can follow a strict diet b/c of what the surgery puts you through or is it something to show that you are serious about wanting to have this done? this is confusing b/c if we are able to lose weight w/ dieting why would we ever need the surgery??    — k_ibarra912 (posted on September 12, 2008)

September 12, 2008
honestly, I think they're looking for a way to stall you...if they make the conditions difficult enough for a person to follow through with then there will be a certain amount of people who will drop the request...too many hoops to jump throuhg. Only the most persistant will make it. Of course the insurance company will not tell you this but just remember that they are a business and businesses are there to make money. The less they spend on surgeries the more money that goes to the bottom line. I was in the same situation last year at this time. I was borderline in my BMI andI was afraid that if I lost too much then they'd say I didn't qualify because of my weight...and if I didn't lose anything they say, well how can you stick to anything. Again, I believe it's a delay tactic and probably works for them to end up doing less surgery. I was also on a six month plan but after 2 months my ins. company waived it and called the surgeons office and booked my surgery. This was because they got caught going back on their own published policy regarding WLS and I complained...others probably did too. It's a complicated deal but hang in there, it's worth it. I've lost 100 lbs. and haven't felt this good in years.
   — cjjordan

September 12, 2008
I had to do the 6 month supervised diet with dietician, I lost the every month but the last, I gained it all back plus a half pound, well the surgery scheduler was worried I might not be approved, but sent it in anyway and low and behold, I was approved with in 1 1/2 weeks, I was so excited. I am not sure of the reasoning behind it. I wish you the best of luck, I am now almost 8 weeks out and I have lost almost 45 pounds and so glad to have had it done, and Knowing I won't gain it back, I am very strict with myself, I do as I am told by the doctor/nut/dieticain. Good Luck to you!!!
   — [Deactivated Member]

September 12, 2008
no, they want to see if you have the wil power to stick with it. If you don't on a diet how can they expect you to stick with it on liquids and mush for the first month and a half, until you can get to solid food again. plus during this time the liver has a change to scale back in size making the surgery easier. Good Luck and GOD BLESS
   — LBowker

September 13, 2008
I used to think these other answers were the reasons why they wanted you to lose weight before surgery but after further research I found that they need you to lose excess fat inside your stomach, around your liver and in the areas they will be working with those small tools otherwise they cannto see what is going on and if everything else is ok in there. It is really hard to lose that weight in lui of getting ready for the surgery. I know they could do it if you don't follow through but most want that area clear. As far as sticking to a certain amount of weight you must lose that I do not agree with because we are all different but now I better understand the need to get as much excess fat out of that area as possible, it is better for you and will make your recovery easier too. Good luck.
   — Goldielocksss

September 13, 2008
I had to lose 10% of my weight go to support group once a month, stop drinking caffiene, carbonated drinks, alcohol, watch my calories 1200 a day, protein 80g a day and my fat intake 30 mg a day with exercise. I will be honest with you I discouraged at times but when I got my surgery date in at the end of July I lost 25 lbs. quick
   — humper

September 17, 2008
According to my surgeon's office and the insurance approval department, any weight loss before surgery helps the surgery be more successful and shrinks the liver, but that's the purpose of the pre-surgery diet. They said that it was to establish that regular dieting doesn't work for you; and that, in conjunction with your comorbidities and risk factors, help determine whether or not you are approved. It also helps weed out the people looking for a quick fix or an easy answer to the difficulty of losing weight.
   — Dusty Ray Vaughn