Insurance Denial For Revision -Then, Approval!

This is to all those people out there who need revision. KEEP PUSHING YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY! I had a band and had it slip. I had to have emergency surgery to get it removed. After a year, a re-gained 30 of the 80 pounds I lost. My surgeon recommended me for revision surgery to a sleeve, but my insurance denied me. The insurance was trying to treat me as if I was brand new to bariatric surgery. They said that I did not weigh enough! Clearly, I was on my way to total re-gain. It was a gradual, upward trend. I appealed and was denied again. I was about to give up and saw that there was a 2nd level appeal process that went through an outside panel, independent of the insurance company. I sent a detailed, tabbed binder with my medical records prior to the band and after the band with a 2 page cover letter describing my journey and the anguish that comes with failed weight loss surgery. Much to my surprise, they granted approval. This process took about 6 months, but was totally worth it!