Question:
How do I get started in order to qualify for the surgery, What do I have to do?

   — krakers (posted on April 28, 2007)

April 27, 2007
If you have insurance call them to see what they require first. Some may require a supervised diet, psych eval, specific BMI, or cor mobidities. I would start there. Then research surgeons in your area. You can go to your states forum and see who other people are using in your area. You might need a referal from your PCP. But first contact your insurance company. Hope that helps. Michele
   — michelemcd

April 27, 2007
Where I'm at I actually looked in to surgeons first. The places I looked all had free seminars that explained the surgery and the one I chose actually contacted my insurance company for me to find out exactly what they covered...this was all free of charge.
   — cburky911

April 28, 2007
There are several books out there to help you start the process and help you through every step of the way. The best and most comprehensive one that I have found is called "The Doctor's Guide to Weight Loss Surgery" by Louis Flancbaum, MD. It takes you from beginning to end and addresses every bump that you can encounter along the way... good luck to you.... I still refer to this book and I am 7 mos out....
   — Kari_K

April 28, 2007
Hi Jacqueline, First, do not contact your insurance company at all. I have a PPO and I started with my primary care physician and spoke with her about the surgery and she knew what my insurance required and we immediately started the supervised 6 month weight loss process. At my 4th months I started looking at local surgeons that are on my insurance. At that time Cigna had only certified Greater Baltimore Medical Center. I selected GBMC and completed the form for the initial seminar and started there. Afterwards I recv'd an appt with the surgeon and recv'd a list of pre-op tests that had to be done. There are 3 that have to be done prior to submitting medical documentation to the insurance company. Once this is done, the administraive insurance person in the surgeons office submits paperwork to the insurance company. The reason I say don't talk to the insurance companies is because some of them will read your insurance policy incorrectly. Go to your insurance companies website and login and perform a search using bariatric as a search word. Most insurance companies have a position paper on the surgery. If you work for a company with 50 or more employees in the State of Maryland -- you will be covered. If you'd like more informaton just send me an email and I'll send you the documentation.
   — the7thdean

April 28, 2007
Hi! In addition to all that has already been said... After you find a surgeon, know what insurance requires and see your primary care doc... You wioll probably have a host of clearances / tests to be sure that you are a good candidate for surgery. My biggest suggestion is that you keep a copy of everything that is being sent to your doc. I kept a folder and brought it with me to all my appointments. This way if any of the things that were faxed to my surgeon's office were "missing" i had mine for them to copy. I called my insurnace when I started the process, and they were most helpful. They told me who was "in plan" and what hoops I would be jumping through. Good Luck! Robin
   — robinmarra