AllForMy4

Thank you for that info!! My surgeon is Dr.Coates in Modesto!! I looked up Anthem Blue Cross's Medical Policy online and it says they cover the sleeve if you are an eligible candidate. Here's the link: http://www.anthem.com/ca/medicalpolicies/policies/mp_pw_a053317.htm It is listed in the first paragragh along with all the other types of WLS. It is listed as "Sleeve Gastrectomy" This may or may not be the info you need but DONT GIVE UP!! I would call your insurance directly and ask how you can view their medical policy online. They should be able to provide you with a link to your actual plan with them. And it is always better to see it in writing yourself rather than to be possibly told numerous things by different agents... Thank you so much for the advice about maybe having to be with them for a certain amount of time before the surgery is covered. That's a great question to ask my insurance lady when I go in tomorrow to possibly switch my plan!!! As far as Dr.Coates office having a contract with Anthem Blue Cross,I talked to about 4 ppl from their office yesterday that confirmed that Anthem Blue Cross does cover the sleeve with them,bc I kept calling back to make sure!! LOL. I would call Dr.Coates office and talk to them if you may still want to have the surgery done there. They are very helpful and have an awesome pre-authorization worker!! I'm sure if you give her your exact insurance info as far as what plan you are under with Anthem Blue Cross,she should be able to give you some valuable advice. Hope this helps-It would be awesome to go through this journey with someone local!!!

Oh wow! Good job on quitting smoking. Trying to get my husband to kick the habit. I smoked for 2 yrs back when I was like 18,then quit at 20 when I got pregs with my first. Congrats on your success,sounds awesome!!!

Omgosh how exciting!!!! Sounds like you did a great job researching and getting ready! Congrats on your success so far! Are u nervous at all??

That's the healthy diva look!!! Thank you so much and congrats again on your achievements!!

Wow thanks!!! Omgosh I bet you are so excited and nervous now that you have an actual date!! Good luck and congrats!!!

Thank you for that! You look awesome in your profile pic BTW!!!!

You are awesome!!! Thanks for your story,it gives me more motivation to take my butt to the seminar on Nov 10th! LOL I have been thinking about WLS since about Jan of 2010. Then I got pregs with twins before I could even get to my dr to talk about WLS! SO I gained 80 pounds with them (Carried them to full term) but then lost 50 after having them,then gained 35 back!!! They are 9 months old. Add on dieting on and off since I was 13 and finally finding out last month that I have high cholesterol,triglycerides and glucose and most likely sleep apnea,and I finally came to the decision that WLS is right for me. I didn't even know about the sleeve until I started researching WLS a bit more extensively and I found that many ppl were talking about their successes with it and the not as bad side effects or risks compared to the RNY and Band. Getting pregs with the twins and carrying them to term did a number on my body and it didn't help that I was already obese before. It is very hard to motivate myself to excerise for more than 10 minutes or so bc I get very winded and I am exhausted ALL the time!!

Thank you!! I actually got my insurance questions answered today by a couple ppl at my surgeon's office and also my insurance customer care..My surgeon's office said that it is VERY hard to get an approval for the VSG through Health Net and advised me to switch to my only other option at this time which is Anthem Blue Cross,so I am changing it on the 26th of this month!! Love your ticker BTW!!!

Thank you! Congrats on your weight loss so far!! I feel that the sleeve is right for me for the exact reason that it works the same as a regular stomach only smaller. My sis had a hernia after the RNY,had a horrible time with dumping,and 2 months later had to have her gallbladder removed after being rushed to the ER in severe pain!!! Also her hair started falling out bc she couldn't absorb the Vitamins right!!! Although she lost the weight and she is below goal now,it was very scary for everyone but I am trying to express to them that the VSG is not like the RNY at all really.

Thank you so much! I love this site already and love browsing the forums!

Hello! Was just kinda wondering if any of you experienced sleevers would be willing to give like your own timeline experience from start to finish so I can hear of other's journey and also gain some insight into how long in general this may take. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! My name is Liz and I am new to this site hoping to have the sleeve done. I have started the process beginning with a visit to my doctor and starting yet ANOTHER diet and exercise plan with her while getting the ball rolling(for documentation). I have an appt for a sleep study the week after next. I am currently 5'3" and weigh 265,my bmi is 46!! I have high cholesterol,very high triglycerides,and the early on set on diabetes and I am pretty sure I have sleep apnea...I am only 25 yrs old,I have tried dieting unsuccesfully and end up yo yo-ing since about age 13. Been overweight since I was 10..it is serioulsy taking a toll on my body and my life in general. Thank God I have a husband who truly loves me for me and is very supportive of my decision to have WLS. I have 4 beautiful children who will benefit greatly from having a healthier mommy! Soooooo,on November 10th I am attending a seminar that my surgeon,Dr. Patrick Coates,requires before surgery. There I will gain more insight on the sleeve(even though I think I may have OVER researched it already and can pass a quiz on it lol),meet the surgeon,and schedule my initial consult. I am really anxious to get everything taken care of and approved and start on this life changing journey!!!! So while impatiently waiting for the seminar date to come,I will be completing my psych eval and meeting up with a dietician. Anyone else had the surgery with Health Net insurance? I really want to get it approved on the first submit of my paperwork to Health Net so I am trying to have all the requirements met before hand. Anyhow,so sorry for the long post!! I am looking for support here and any info I can get on helping getting approved or requirements to get approved on the first time.. my husband is supportive of my decision but noone else in my fam is...at all. My older sister had the RNY done back in 08 and while she lost well over 100 pounds,she has had nothing but problems....So instead of my fam researching the sleeve or even listening to me try to educate them on the differences between it and the RNY,they just get mad at me saying it is not the right choice...anyhow,I will quit while I'm ahead bc that's another story!! LOL I hope to make lots of friends here!!!

I know this was back in April but what about Dr.Coirin? He does the VSG as well and is in Modesto. Pretty much like Dr. Coates partner. He's in the same building out by Memorial. Hope this helps!