Question:
What to do if I dont have 12 mths of physician supervised diets documented?

I found out today that my insurance co. requires 12 mths of documented physician supervised weight loss attempts. It does not have to be consecutive, but it has to be a total of 12. I have been to Weight Watchers, The Diet Center, Nutri system, and Atkins Center. The only ones I can document are Atkins Center and 3 mths of Meridia with my PCP. I contacted the other center but they do not keep records past 5 yrs. All the other weight loss attempts have been on my own or from a book. Anyone have a similar situation?    — Tara J. (posted on February 26, 2002)

February 26, 2002
I suggest creating a spreadsheet of all the diets you have ever been on in your life, including fad diets, diet pills, liquid diets and calorie counting, and make that spreadsheet part of your medical record with your primary care physician. List the month/year you were on each particular diet, the pounds lost, how long you kept those pounds off and other related comments. If you are like most of us, this spreadsheet will be very lengthy and will demonstrate that you have dieted for years and years unsuccessfully, and that you have not rushed into your decision about weight loss surgery.
   — JoanneML

February 26, 2002
Hi My insurance also recquired a one year diet history (medically supervised) but i didn't have it. I did go to a family practitioner for a few months and was diagnosed with "depression" :) so i had them give me copies of my visits. I then wrote a very sincere letter of all my weight loss attempts, told them about myself and occupation, how my weight affects my life, about my family etc...and i was approved in 2 weeks. i hope this helps!!!!! PS i have BCBS of Florida
   — Jasmine L.

February 26, 2002
Give it a try. Submit any and all diet history you can and see what they say. My insurance (Anthem BC/BS Indiana) was really stuck on the 12 months consecutive dr monitored diet history. They denied my first and second times around as not being medically necessary, despite the fact that I have 6 of the 7 comorbidities that the NIH says only one qualifies you as medically necessary. So I hired Walter Lindstrom (www.obesitylaw.com) and he I was approved 3 days after he sent a legal brief to my insurance company saying that their requirement was illegal and discriminatory. I would highly recommend Walter for anyone who is having any problems getting insurance approval.
   — Dell H.

February 26, 2002
I had the same problem, the doctors didn't keep records that far back, so I called my mother and asked her to write a letter stating how I was always heavy and had been on many diets supervised by (and she named the doctors). She also stated that if I lost any I always gained it back. She had it notarized and the doctor sent it to the insurance company along with my psych evaluation and letter from my medical doctor. I was approved the first time. Hope this helps!
   — Lucinda N.

February 27, 2002
I also have Anthem and this issue was a huge concern to me because I didn't think I had 12 months history either. Here's what I did. I prepared a diet history back to the age of 8. I know that's a long stretch but I wanted to show my weight has been a life long issue. I listed ages, beginning weight, ending weight, regains, what program or pill I used. I made sure they could see this has been a lifelong issue. I did the best I could and it felt like torture putting in on paper. I had been to my PCP for health issues quite often and my weight was almost always recorded and often spoken about. Someone mentiond here once, as long as you've been to the dr and your weight is recorded that can be recognized as a physician supervised program. I believe that must be true because I've been approved after 2 1/2 weeks. Read all you can about your particular insurance on this site. It really makes the difference. Good Luck to you.
   — Tina H.