Question:
How long do you have to have BMI of 40?

I currently have a BMI of 40.9 and have for the past year. Do most insurances require your BMI to be over 40 for a certain lenght of time to qualify. I have Aetna and the policy just says you need to have a BMI of 40 or 35 with other conditions. The policy says you need to have a 5 year history of morbid obesity-- I have had a BMI of 35 or above for the past 4 years and 40+ for the last year. Thanks to anyone who has any insight on this. glstls    — Tracy S. (posted on January 31, 2007)

January 31, 2007
I HAVE AETNA. I'M HERE IN MD---I HAD NO PROBLEM, BMI 40+ & MY ENTIRE PREOP PROCESS WAS ABOUT 3-4 MOS. I'M 2WKS. POST OPT-NO PROBLEM BEING APPROVED. I HAD A WONDERFUL PROGRAM HERE IN, MD--THEY DID ALL THE RED TAPE STUFF. DIFFERENT STROKES 4 DIFFERENT FOLKS. GOOD LUCK.
   — CELESTIALDIVA01

February 1, 2007
If that is what your policy says that is the rule. My ins co didn't require that but everybpdy's is different.
   — SteffieBear15

February 1, 2007
My sister had two different United Health Care (UHC) policies. One from her retirement with the Bell System. That policy required 5 years of being MO (she was 2 years of being MO) and they would not budge on those terms. She was denied 2 times by them for surgery. Fast forward to last year and she was hired full time with a company that also has UHC but the policy did not require the 5 years MO. She had her surgery late last September. So you see there really isn't any clear cut answer. It all depends on the individual insurance policy. Good luck and take care. :)
   — ChristineB

February 2, 2007
Sounds to me as though you meet the guidelilnes, if you have been over 35 BMI for five years. Did you jump thorough all the other hoops?
   — Novashannon