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Scroll down to the forum for monthly sleevers, then pick 2011, then November. Congrats on your date! Glenna

I just got my date too... November 14th!! I will be sippin for Thanksgiving too! I am lucky I got in on that date because my Dr. is going to be gone from the 15th - 28th. You both should join the November sleevers group! Glenna

My husband is indifferent... his fear is the chance of something going wrong. Once I get out of surgery & everything is fine he will be super supportive. He is just scared of 'un-necessary' surgery. Of course he is thin, and has never had a weight problem. I just got my date, Nov 14th, so I am super excited & he doesn't want to talk about it... Glenna

I am very excited to announce that my new life will start on Nov 14th!! WooooHoooo!! i am so excited & cannot believe it is only a little over 3 weeks away!! One week till I start my pre-op diet... holy cow, I have been working at this for 10 months, through 2 denials & endless phone calls I have accomplished my goal, I cannot believe it! I am looking forward to getting to know all the other November sleevers... Glenna

Thank you all for your kind words... I know what you were talking about sweety93 I was trying to be patient, but was getting worn out myself LOLOL!! My goal is to have surgery the week of Nov 14th... due to work schedules & my birthday is 11*11*11 this year!! Also, I have to be recovered enough to do black friday shopping I will keep you posted!! Glenna

I got approved!!! After 10 months, 2 denials, countless phone calls & faxes I got approved!!! I am soooooo excited I can hardly stand it... Thank you all for your support in this very long process! I will be joining the November group!! Wow, I can't believe it! Glenna

I DID IT!!! I DID IT!!! I GOT APPROVED!!! I am soooooo excited I can hardly stand it!! I haven't even called the surgeons office yet LOL I told my sister & my best friend!! I cannot believe that it worked out, after 2 denials from BCBSIL I was starting to loose hope... for all of you who are in the process be patient! I have been working toward this for the last 10 months!! Now to call the surgeon & figure out what to do next... Wow, I am in shock... my new life will begin soon!! Thank you all for your support it kept me going through all the months! Glenna

Jan, Did they ever tell you that it was sent to a Dr to reviews? how are you doing, by the way?

Really?!?!? I hope so!! I am really want this to be the next step for approval... Thank you for giving me hope!!!

Ok, so I don't know what to think... I called BCBSIL and was told that I needed more information from my Dr regarding the type of program that I was on for the 6 months of MSWLP. So my Dr wrote a letter explaining that I was on a low calorie diet with exercise 3 times a week, daily food journals & exercise notes; that i came in every month for a weight check etc... so I sent that over with the personal letter I wrote as to why I want the surgery. When I called yesterday they told me that they have my fax, but have not reviewed it & that my surgeon's insurance coordinator might get more information. So she did call in and magically between my call and hers they had reviewed the fax then sent it on for Dr. review & she should call back in a week for an update. My question, for all you out there, is: Is that a good sign? I am optimistic that this is a step closer to surgery, like maybe before they denied it due to the lack of information and it never got to the Dr review part? What do you all think??? I have been doing this since Dec of last year & I just want the approval so the waiting is over... Thanks for all your help! Glenna

Thank Jan & I a sure you are recovering nicely from your surgery today! I called the insurance & they said they received my fax, however they haven't reviewed it yet... and that I should call back next Wednesday! Really, you think I am going to wait till Wednesday, I think not! I plan on calling daily LOLOLOLOL! Hoping for great news soon! Glenna

I would recommend that you call your insurance co & they can send you the requirements for surgery,... then explain your situation & see what they say. Have you met with the surgeon? They might have some idea. Good luck! Glenna

Well, it finally got sent over today, so I will start calling tomorrow to check on it!! Thank you all for your support... it helps so much during this process! Glenna

Quick update... I talked to my Dr today & I think she called BCBSIL, have I told you all how much I LOVE my Dr! Then she wrote a letter for me that explains that I was on a 1200 cal/day diet with excercise. It also states that I have daily food journals & exercise logs and I came in every month for a progress check. I was able to loose 10 lbs during that time. I also wrote a letter to send to them from my heart about how this will change my life & my family life; I inculded that my dad has HBP, Diabetes, High Cholesterol & had a stroke at 59, also that my mom has HBP, High Cholesterol etc. I am really hopeful that between that, the proof that my BMI was over 40 (40.8 to be exact) when I started my MSLWP, and a description of the program my Dr had me on will be enough to get this thing moving!! Can you think of anything else I may need?? Also, why does the info always come in on Friday when they aren't open till Monday?? Patience!!! Thanks for reading this very long & rambling post ) Glenna

Oh, I am on a war path, but I am trying to do it with a smile... next time I call in I'll ask for him

You don't happen to have his name & number still do you?? LOLOLOL I liked the lady I talked to today & she did call and talk to the nurse so I know what they want now. I do think that she was getting a little frustrated with me and all my questions though... I just wanted to be sure so that I can send the right stuff, ya know... I am by no means giving up, I will call and bug them until they approve me... I just want to do it in Nov because that is the best time for me to be off of work. Glenna

Well, I spent 30 min on the phone with BCBSIL & am a bit frustrated LOL.... They still do not have the paper from Friday that states my BMI for April, and now they are saying that my Dr. notes are not detailed enough! Seriously!??!?!? Its like they enjoy making us dance through this pre-requirements for fun! I am just going to schedule an appt with my Dr so that we can sit down & update the notes, I figure if I am right there then it will be done faster LOL and patience is not something I have an abundance of right now. Thanks for all your support...

i called today & they did not show the fax from Friday in the system!! UGGGGHHH!! I am trying to be patient, but I am not very good at it LOL... I just want the approval so I can plan my holidays, time off etc. Congrats on your approval!! Do you mind me asking your stats, why did they deny you & what did you do to get them to change their mind?? Sorry it that is too personal I just need some pointers,

Well, my stuff got sent over again... fingers crossed!! Glenna

Well, i am picking up the all the notes from my Dr about my 6 month program... with the BMI on each of them. I am also going to to add my personal letter to the mix to see if that helps. Then my insurance coordinator at the surgeons office is going to call the insurance company to see if she can get anywhere with them!! I am getting hopeful again that this will happen in November like I wanted in the beginning (because of my work schedule) Glenna

CONGRATS!!! I hope to be posting that soon too!

Soooo.... I am trying not to be discouraged, however i am bummed. I got denied too by BCBSIL because the first month of my 6 month program with my PCP did not list my BMI. The first month I did the program was in April with a BMI of 40.8, then in May I was at a BMI of 39.8 so they considered the 39.8 the 'starting BMI' so I have to have the 2 co-morbidities. I am hopeful that when I have my PCP resend the note from April with the real starting BMI it will be approved since with a BMI of 40 I don't have to have any co-morbidities, but this is my worst fear... getting this far, getting this excited for nothing! I have heard from some ppl on this forum that they were able to talk to the person at the insurance who is making the decision... how do I do that?? I was told today that I couldn't talk to the nurse!! Bummer... Does anyone have any advice??? I really want this done in November... Thanks for listening, I was just hoping for better news Glenna

Soooo.... I am trying not to be discouraged, however i am bummed. I got denied too by BCBSIL because the first month of my 6 month program with my PCP did not list my BMI. The first month I did the program was in April with a BMI of 40.8, then in May I was at a BMI of 39.8 so they considered the 39.8 the 'starting BMI' so I have to have the 2 co-morbidities. I am hopeful that when I have my PCP resend the note from April with the real starting BMI it will be approved since with a BMI of 40 I don't have to have any co-morbidities, but this is my worst fear... getting this far, getting this excited for nothing! I have heard from some ppl on this forum that they were able to talk to the person at the insurance who is making the decision... how do I do that?? I was told today that I couldn't talk to the nurse!! Bummer... Does anyone have any advice??? I really want this done in November... Thanks for listening, I was just hoping for better news Glenna

Quick update... the surgeon called & the Dr's office missed the August visit so they are resending it On a great side the notes look great with what she documented & she wrote a great letter stating that I was a great canidate for the surgery!! WooHoo!! Sending the ppk this week for sure... Glenna

So I was one of those ppl who was about to submit to the insurance when BCBS of IL changed the requirements from 3 months to 6 months so I decided to just do a 6 month with my Dr. Well, yesterday was the final visit so it is gonna be resubmitted next week! I am so nervous that it won't go through... my BMI was just over 40 when I started so I should be fine, but I just want to know for sure!! Even though I can't have surgery till November because of work... Wish me luck!!! Glenna