Question:
I have no diet history Per Se

My doctor said For my insurance to cover my W.L.S, they need one (1) of medical supervise diet history, I have PacificCare Alliance IPA,I cannot afford the diet program. So I wonder can I,do my own diet plan that consist of slimfast and save the receipts and daily logs to submit to my doctor. Thank you so much RuschellDawson    — Ruschell (posted on June 2, 2003)

June 1, 2003
If I were you, If you want to do your own diet plan, that's fine. But, I would give a copy of your plan to your PCP so that he can put it on your chart. You will have to go back monthly (or whatever your insurance requires) to get weighed in. Most insurances just state that you have to have a medically supervised diet. I did weight watchers (my PCP noted in my records that I was starting WW) for six months and seen my PCP monthly during that time. I was approved. Good Luck
   — Carolyn M.

June 1, 2003
I agree with the previous poster. My Dr. told me and charted it for 2 years that he recommened a low fat, low calorie diet. I did the slim fast thing and he was superivising me for 2 years because each time we discussed my diet.
   — Lora T.

June 1, 2003
I wonder is this a requirement of your WLS/Primary Dr. or your insurance make sure and ask??? If it is your insurance then I dont see a way of getting out of it. If it is just a Dr. requirement then you may be able to get around it by switching Dr.'s. I didnt need a diet history at all since my BMI was high enough. I got insurance approval within 2 days. It pays to check out all your options especially if you can get a surgery date sooner. Good luck to you. Wendi
   — lovemonterey

June 2, 2003
The key word here is "medically supervised". Make sure you have a copy of your insurance plan's criteria. Find out if there's a time criteria, such as a 12-week diet. Once you find out what the parameters are, discuss them with your PCP. Work with your doc to make sure you're following all the rules. Insurance companies are notorious for being sticklers...if they say they want 26 weeks of diet history, and you only have 12, then they can deny you. It's always best to have a hardcopy in hand of what your insurance company requires. Hugs, Joy
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 2, 2003
I balked at this insurance requirement as well... mine said, "a physician-supervised nutrition and exercise program documented in the medical record" (Aetna) and it had to be for at least 6 months. When I showed this to my endocrinologist, she said "oh, we've been doing this ever since you came to see me two years ago". I kept thinking it had to be at least six months of actually SEEING a nutritionist and somehow documenting my exercise program (my membership to my company gym), but she had a good point: how would they know if you're even *going* to the gym, or *following* the advice of your nutritionist. She felt that she had been documenting my weight and discussing it with me during my appointments over the course of two years... and references to these conversations were in my medical file, so she felt that was adequate. Granted, every insurance company is different and you'll be reviewed by an actual PERSON, so who know what they will consider to be "reasonable" as documentation. Good luck!
   — Kelly T.