Question:
Just got denied for no supervised diet in past year now what??

I have tried every diet out there including lifetime at Jenny Craig , Weight Watchers and all that I told the surgeon all this at my consult. What should I do now????    — Miriam R. (posted on June 25, 2003)

June 24, 2003
I got my medical records from my Dr. and almost every visit for 3 years he discussed with me Low Fat/Calorie Diet and charted my progress each visit. BCBS took that as a medically supervised diet. I went to all the other things too but didn't have any documentation to back them up. Try your PCP and see if he can help you out. Good Luck!
   — Lora T.

June 24, 2003
I had the same problem. Luckily, my surgeon warned me about it on my first consult with him. I went to my family doctor the same day and she gave me a 1600 calorie a day diet and I started my 12-weeks physician supervised diet required by Cigna. I did get denied, but submitted documentation from my doctor at the end of the 12 weeks and was approved. Even lost 41 lbs. during that time too.
   — Cathy S.

June 24, 2003
I was denied for not having physician supervised aggressive attempts at weight loss and all I did was do a thorough diet history with pages from my medical records that show a my weights while I was on each diet. If you can get copies of your medical record and go through them yourself I am sure you can find fluctuations in weights over the last year and say that you were on a diet. Doctor supervised or not. You would be surprised at what actually gets sent in to the insurance company, there was only one page of information and a letter from my surgeon sent in even though I had a pack of tests and information that I filled out at the surgeon's office. My appeal was 21 pages long.
   — S C.

June 25, 2003
You can try to fight it with all of the suggestions that the other posters made, but in the mean time, get on a supervised diet right away. I know it sucks, but time is going to pass and you will either get closer to meeting this qualification or not. Remerber, the diet doesn't have to be successful, just supervised.
   — Amber L.

June 25, 2003
I did not have a supervised diet. But my pcp wrote a letter stating ... that I have been on many diets over the past 4yrs while under his care. But he didnt supervise them. Technically not supervised. But sounds supervised. It worked. I was approved. 1st try. Something you may try if your pcp will write the letter. Good luck.
   — Sarah H.

June 26, 2003
I did not have a supervised diet but my PCP and my OB doctor wrote a letter on my behalf stating how important it was for my health for me to have this surgery. I then told the insurance company that I planned on contacting my attorney. Next thing you know I was approved.
   — Jennifer M.