Question:
Does anyone know how I could bypass the 6 month diet requirement for Iowa title 19?

I am wanting to get the surgery as soon as possible. I currently have a bmi of over 55. I have been morbidly obese for at least 10 years and just obese for another 15 plus before that. I was told by the clinic in Iowa City that as of July 1, 2011 title 19 would no longer be paying for the surgery. So its now or never I am afraid. Please help!!    — rachelldiehl (posted on April 15, 2011)

April 15, 2011
I couldn't bypass my time, and my time was for a year. However in retrospect, I am glad I had to wait for the year, in that year I read so much about this surgery and when I had the surgery I wasn't scared at all and well informed. Good luck
   — FSUMom

April 15, 2011
I too had to do a 6 month regiment. But mine was not a diet. I had to go to the clinic and learned about eatting and exercise. If this is what you haver to do You should do it. I learned so much before my surgery. I too was not scared. And I have had great results. My surgery was 1-13-2010. Good Luck. Also if you need recipes after surgery here is a great websight....theworldaccordingtoeggface.com
   — Lorrie74080

April 16, 2011
im sorry, but there is no way around it. iowa is also notorious for making you start over if you have more than 30 days in between doctor visits on your 6 months. you can try to have your doctor and surgeon write a letter and make a case for you, but start the 6 months immediately. good luck. please remember that this is just ONE tool in the many tools you will need to fight obesity, so dont lose hope if one tool isnt available to you. im rooting for you!
   — lady_myst

April 16, 2011
if you think your impatient now. wait till you have the surgery, when those people at the sales pitch/seminar stand up and tell you how great it is,run. the first six weeks are the equivelent of listening to obama speak non stop. youve been overweight for a long time, but what you're about to go thru will make you second guess your choice. what ive heard is there is no way of getting around any requirements.
   — dixienormous

April 16, 2011
I'm going to ask a really stupid question. Is there a way that you can be grandfathered in? I mean it's really difficult to get the 6 months waiting down to 2 1/2.
   — Kathleen W.

April 16, 2011
I too had to do the '6 month thing', but I can't tell you how important the 6 month wait is. I know you feel ready and want it NOW...we all did, but looking back I needed the 6 months to prepare. There is so much to learn...NOW AS FOR THE NOW OR NEVER...I am sorry to say I don't know anything about title 19. Is it Iowa state insurance?? I would be shocked if that is true that they are not paying for the procedure any more! The price of Morbid Obesity is so much more costly than the actual procedure. There are multiple insurance companies that DO cover several different bariatric procedures...it would not be cheap to start with a new insurance carrier, but it would be a lot cheaper than paying out of pocket for the procedure.
   — kfgates

April 17, 2011
I agree with everyone who said the 6 month waiting period is a good learning time. It also gives you an opportunity to see if you really want this surgery. You learn new ways of eating. I don't know what the person who said it was a sales pitch time (?). I did not have that experience.
   — Muggs

April 17, 2011
Im going to tell you what my primary Dr told me. Weigh in April 30, May 15 and June 1 and you have 3 months weigh in in 32 days! But thats about the best I can help you with. It did it for me but I only needed 3 months.
   — _Karen