Question:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota for Target Stores employees

I just started a new job at Target Greatland, primarily for the insurance. WLS in not an exclusion but does require a prior- authorization. My insurance will kick in June/July. Is there anything I should be doing until then?? Is a prior-auth hard to get??    — Shannon D. (posted on March 29, 2003)

March 29, 2003
Find out what your insurance company requires for them to approve WLS. If they want any medically supervised diet attempts, you can start that now. You can also start having any appointments they may want, psych eval, for example. It really depends on your insurance company, so they're the ones to go to for a definitive answer. You can also call the surgeon's office and ask if there's anything they would recommend you do now. Not all insurance policies require psych evals, but some doctors do even if your insurance doesn't.
   — garw

March 29, 2003
Just try and get every ache and pain documented. Have blood work done so that your labs can be evaluated for elevations. What counts is what is recorded at your doctor's office. Don't be afraid that something is too small to report. Get your diet history together also. This will help if your insurance company requires it. Good luck on your journey!
   — Sandy P.

March 29, 2003
I was just approved by blue cross, it was real easy and only took 2 weeks once the papers were submitted. First call customer service at blue cross and as if they cover the procedure. They should say yes, then the only other thing you need is that you have failed in previous diets and you need to get an evaluation from a dietition to submit with the insurance authorization. Call a dietition at your clinic and it takes about an hour.
   — Daidrae P.

March 29, 2003
Just wanted to add that not all Blue Cross policies are alike. I have Anthem BC/BS of Colorado. They did not require a dietician at all, although my surgeon did.
   — garw