krenee

FINALLY, I am APPROVED. Surgery date has been set for May 29th

I was sleeved on may 29 and today I went to cheesecake factory. I had unsweetened passion fruit icetea with splenda, cracked,and sauteed spinach. Was only able to eat one cracked and 2 spoonful of spinach before feeling full......can't believe

I had to buy a new scale. My digital one wasn't moving and I felt something wasn't right. Low and behold I buy a new one and I am 12lbs less than what I thought. Thank God I was worried

Thanks, this was helpful

You look absolutely fabulous

Dont be discouraged, any weight losss is good weight loss

Finally, I am APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 6 months back and fourth with my Insurance. My surgery is May 29th.

wait time varies depending on insurance; my insurance (GHI) initially denied me and then my doctor had to contact insurance as well as the state, and within 3-4 months I had my surgery ... sometimes it can take longer, sometimes it can take shorter. Be patient .. it will happen and you will be on your way to a healthier you before you know it. Good luck!

Here's the 2 I had bookmarked for reference.

Thanks LML for all of your advice. The Sleeve is definitely not an exclusion - they are mostly honing in on wanting me to be under a physician supervised diet plan for six months. I'm already one month into
that anyway so worst case I should be able to qualify after the beginning of the year even without the appeal.
I like the idea of getting the other Drs to write letters - I have records but will ask for the written support also.
Thanks again.
Susie

I have seen some who have posted and were willing to share their appeal letter that helped them get approved. I would so appreciate it if you would inbox me
if you are willing and I will pay it forward.
I was approved by United Healthcare to have my Lapband removed but not to have the Sleeve. I will give them credit in that a Care Coordinator follows
up with me regularly to see how I am doing. I moved to a new state so had to find a new Primary Dr. and saw him for the first time a month or so ago
to officially start a 6 month program which is supposedly the main reason they wouldn't approve. The Care Coordinator also had me talk to a Behavioral Counsellor
and both seem to be very caring and understanding of my situation and have encouraged me to appeal. I do plan on appealing but my former Primary requires me to
send a letter to obtain my records and I have not done that yet - but will do tonight or tomorrow. I did obtain records from my former podiatrist for plantar fascitis treatment records
as well as my former Bariatric doctor to demonstrate the care I had in the past (my last fill was in 09/09 though) after which I pretty much gave up on the whole thing.
Anyway, I want to get started with the Appeal letter and have a good idea of what to say and I have lots of receipts from any number of diet plans I tried even while having the
band due to my lack of weight loss -- WW, Medifast, Nutrisystem, etc. I felt so vindicated when my new surgeon read the results of my Upper GI and saw that the band had slipped
and isn't even sitting on my stomach - it's on my esophagaus which explained why I was never feeling full nor had restriction - though food still got stuck at that point.
Thanks in advance to anyone willing to help.
Susie