Question:
Did BC/BS require proof of supervised diets.......

My paperwork is being submitted to BC/BS today. I'm still uncertain on the supervised diet requirements. I put together a spreadsheet with all my past attempts. Can anyone share with me what they were required to send in & if you were approved. I'm sooooo nervous about getting denied......WISH ME LUCK everyone!! Thanks....Michelle    — Michelle E. (posted on October 8, 2003)

October 8, 2003
A spreadsheet sounds like a good presentation. But every BC/BS plan is different. I didn't have to demonstrate my diets were medically supervised (though some were) when I was approved in April 2002, but I had BC/BS Federal. Your plan may be different, but generally, BC/BS seems like it's more reasonable than many of the insurance plans out there. Good luck!
   — Suzy C.

October 8, 2003
Like Suzy said, I suspect it depends on the BC/BS plan. When I was approved in February, 2003 by BC/BS of Illinois, I gave them a list of diet attempts that I had made throughout my adult life. Some were supervised, formal programs, many were not. They never asked for proof or for medical records. I simply listed the type of attempt (e.g Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, self-directed, etc.) the time period, my beginning weight, ending weight, and how much I eventually gained back. In some cases, I had to estimate weights and gain-back, but I identified those as estimates. My understanding is that at least some BC/BS plans are getting tighter on requirements now, so your experience may be different. Best wishes.
   — Vespa R.

October 8, 2003
BCBS United of WI wanted a detailed diet history but allowed me to provide it and never asked for any verification of the physician supervised ones. Maybe because they knew some were prescription drugs that it had to be physician supervised. Also technically I got them to pay for the Redux and that would have been in their own records. I also have heard about stiffer diet criteria but do not know of anyone who has had problems with this yet. <p>If you want a copy of what I sent to BCBS, e-mail me and I will send it back.
   — zoedogcbr

October 8, 2003
Probably depends on each company. My Regence BCBS of Utah did require five years worth of supervised weight loss programs (not necessarily diets).
   — Cosmo K.

October 9, 2003
I just wrote down every diet I had been on since age 14,how much weight I lost and how much I gained back when I went off it. I then marked if they were or were not dr supervised. Of course the phen phen and the meridia were dr supervised because I couldnt get them without going to the dr. weight watchers is never dr supervised but it doesnt mean I didnt go on it and lose 40-60 lbs just to gain 60 to 80 back each time. they have proof in this by the weight you are carrying at the time you ask for surgery. in my case it was a whopping 374lbs. I started at 180 at age 14 so in 30 yrs i had lost and gained 200 lbs several times. I got approved when I found a drs office that was willing to work on it for me. Now I weigh 193 just 13 lbs more than when I was 14.
   — [Deactivated Member]

October 9, 2003
Michelle: I'm wishing you the best of luck. I am so in love with my BC of CA PPO. They didn't require proof of supervised diets from me for my RNY, and I just heard today that they approved my tummy tuck without proof of rashes. I bet your good news is going to come to you in about three weeks or less if your BC is anything like mine. Again, good luck. S
   — sherry hedgecock