Question:
I meet all qualifications for approval except...

I received a denial of my appeal! I meet all of the criteria except for three months of monitored dieting in the past year. Although I have almost three years of monitored visits from 1996-1999, I only had TWO MONTHS of monitoring in 2002. They are denying me because I only did 2 instead of 3 months. UGH! What can I do on my own to overturn this? I don't see how I could do it without a lawyer. I feel like my only two choices are go thru another three months or get an atty. Any suggestions?    — Kimberly S. (posted on March 19, 2003)

March 19, 2003
Call you PCP now and get in as soon as you can. If it's only 3 months between you and getting approved, do the three months. It's really not that long and an appeal would probably take longer. Is it worth spending a lot of money on an appeal, especially if it takes longer than the three months. That time will go by fast. While you're doing that you can start doing some of the things you'll need to do to get ready. You can call your surgeon and find out what tests he'll want you to have and get those scheduled. You can also start an exercise program. Even if you can only do 5 minutes of walking at one time, start doing it. That will help you get ready. You can even get a referral to the surgeon, if you need one and make an appointment for when the three months are up.
   — garw

March 19, 2003
I agree with the previous poster. Get to your PCP to get on a 3 month supervised diet. In the meantime though, check with you insurance and find out if it has to be consequetive (sp?) months. Some insurances just say XX months supervised diet - but when you check with them, you find out that it doesn't have to be xxx months in a row, just in total. Good Luck
   — Carolyn M.