Question:
Anyone w/my inurance w/a low BMI (40.9) and only 23 get approved?

Im 23, w/BMI 40.9...Im going through Harper bariatrics and they do all the insurance foot work. But I am worried that my PCP's refurral isn't good enough.. She basically listed previous diet attempts and then stated In my profession opinnion Alicia will benefit from Bariatric surgery for her weight loss issues!!!! Nothing about co-morbities or family history .. or the key phrase Medically necessary!! I just want this soooo bad... Any advise or past dealings with BC/BS blue choice of MI PPO????    — Snowflake48342 (posted on January 31, 2003)

January 31, 2003
Hey sweetie, I'm also 23 had a BMI of 43 point something and also had Trigon BCBS PPO of VA. My PCP did not write a letter for me. I wrote a letter for me. After 3 weeks I was approved. I was denied once, but only because the doctors office sent in the wrong surgery codes, once they found the mistake, I was approved for LAP RNY. And had surgery 2 months later. I was very lucky. I was concerned because I have not been MO for very long. I got so heavy after my daughter was born. I was overweight before her birth. But did not have a lot of medically supervised diets. Actually only 2. I really believe in my heart of hearts that my surgery was approved because of my letter. Your own surgeon will tell the insurance company that your surgery is medically necessary, so no need to worry about that. The only thing I can suggest is that you wait it out with the insurance company. Thats all any of us can do at this time. I hope that this helped you. Good luck!!
   — Heather B.

January 31, 2003
Hi, Read my profile, only 25 and barely 40BMI.
   — TP

January 31, 2003
my bmi was barely a 35 and I am 25 years old and I got qualified!
   — Karen W.

January 31, 2003
I don't have your insurance, but I did have AETNA PPO and was BMI 41/42 and am 23yrs. old and got approved in a few weeks. My suggestion is that if you aren't happy witht he letter, write your own. I don't know how well you know your PCP or how long you've been going. But my doctor is my family doctor and has known me for a while now, and is very nice and flexible. My mom and I wrote our own letter from his perspective and gave them the disk, they printed it out on their letter head and he signed it. Kind of took the work out of it for him, and put all the info we wanted in the letter. Maybe you can try that? I've never been on "medically supervised" diets, only WW, Atkins and gym, and didn't really have any co-morbs, but still got approved, so ya never know. goodluck!
   — Lezlie Y.

January 31, 2003
My BMI was a 40.5 and I am 21 years old. My insurance is an HMO and I was approved within a week of my dr admitting the letter. Good luck!
   — Lindy L.