Question:
Been told by BCBS that I must be 40 bmi for last 3 years-anyone else?

I was told that one of the requirements for approval by my insurance company is that I need to have been at least 40 bmi for the past 3 years. I dipped down to 37 one of the years and am afraid that that will disqualify me. This insurance stuff is a nightmare. Has this happened to anyone else and they were approved?    — tulip2 (posted on January 31, 2003)

January 31, 2003
Hey sweetie, I had heard the same rumors when I was about to go through insurance approval. Although each insurance is diff. mine Anthem BCBS of VA PPO, had no problem with the fact that I had only 2 yrs of supervised diets, and was only considered MO for about 2 yrs. After my little one was born I was still obese, about a low 30 BMI and 6 months later bam, 40 BMI and gaining. Anyway, I think if you were 37 BMI for however long, as long as you had co-morbs or any related problems due to your weight, I think you shouldn't have a problem. I hope this helps you. Good luck!!
   — Heather B.

January 31, 2003
I have Anthem Blue Access PPO in Indiana. My physician had to sign a document that said that I had been overweight for a period of 5 years. I looked through the schedule of benefits for my policy this morning, and it says the patient must have been overweight for a period of at least five years. It does NOT say obese. So even if your policy is worded that way you could still get approved. Since it doesn't say obese, just overweight, you would still qualify. As another poster said I did have a requirement for previous weight loss efforts. Mine had to be 18 consecutive months physician supervised weight loss efforts. The most effective and most acurate way to find out the answer to your question is to get your hands on a copy of the schedule of benefits for your policy. It should list in black and white the requirements that you must meet before your insurance will approve bariatric surgery. Good luck on your journey!
   — Jenny S.