Question:
I have Great West Insurance and they want documented diet history.

The last time I was on a doctor supervised diet was in 1996-1997 when I was taking phen-fen. My doctor is no longer practicing and I can't get my records. The insurance wants the information for the past 3-4 years, but I have been struggling on my own during that period. Has anyone dealt with Great-West on this issue, and do they give you any leeway at all. Any suggestions will be appreciated.    — Lynda D. (posted on November 1, 2002)

November 1, 2002
Linda, I also have Great West. I provided them a list of all of my past diet attempts including my Phen-phen experience at about the same time as yours. I only provided them actual documentation of my most recent attempt which was a liquid fast that lasted only 10 weeks about a year ago. They approved me without any other request for documentation. You many need to get on a Dr. suprevised program right away. After two or three months on the program, provid them that documentation along with your own personal list of EVERY program you have tried, supervised or not. It may be disapointing to delay your approval this way, but I don't think that it will take 6 months or a year like some other programs. Alternatively, a very detailed description of what you have tried on your own and all of your past attempts may also work. Good Luck!
   — Amber L.

November 1, 2002
Hi, Lynda! I have Great West and I got approved without any medically supervised diet attempts. I gave them a ten year diet history I wrote up on my own which included my weight before each diet, amount lost, amount of time I followed the diet, and details about each diet and exercise regimen I followed. I don't know whether or not that helped with my approval, but it only took about 5 hours to get it! You can e-mail me if you have any other questions. Good luck!
   — Shannon D.

November 1, 2002
I too have Great-West...They asked me for proof of obesity for 3-4 years and a Doctors supervised diet for 1 year. I did the phen-fen like you but for only 6 months. I also had MANY holes in my charts as far as weights by doctors when I went in and when I didn't go to the doc that much for a couple of years. So they made me gather as many records as I could and do a graph of my weight gain and losses over the years and I wrote a letter explaining why there were not many records (ie. lack of confidence in the medical profession to help me and their lack of caring to help me etc)I also had my new PCP write a letter for me with his support of the surgery and all of my history. I had my approval in 2 weeks of doing these things. Good luck and if you need anymore help feel free to e-mail me!
   — Deanna_K

November 1, 2002
I have Great West and my surgery is Monday November 4th. They also asked for diet history and I gave them what all I had tried. I had no doctor supervised diets and they also require a psych. eval. before approval which I didn't know at the time. So I got denial letter and as soon as I had psych. eval. done I was approved in 24 hours. Just give them what all you have tried over the counter, or anything like weight watchers, slim fast things like that. That is all I turned in and it was good enough. So yes in answer to your question they do give leaway on it not being supervised. Just things you have tried is good enough. I hope I have not confused you any. Anymore questions you can email me at [email protected]
   — Bonnie C.