KSTUZ

Hello all! I was also denied by Aetna for weight gain. I don't know where u all live, but I was given a lil tip from a friend on sending my appeal into Aetna... CONTACT YOU STATE REP AND UR STATE SENATOR!! I live in PA, I contacted and emailed my Pennsylvania senator Stewart Greenleaf and emailed him my appeal letter on Monday night. Today I was received a call from his office stating that they received my request and sen. Greenleaf was writing a letter on my behalf to Aetna supporting my appeal. Apparently insurance companies DO NOT LIKE THE REPS AND SENATORS involved. HOPEFULLY this will help my appeal!! I'll let u all know if it works!!

Thank you!! My surgeons office sent a medically necessary letter to them. But I am appealing alone. It is scary. I keep sending it back and forth with my sister to help me. So much has happened in my life the past 6 months- not to mention quitting smoking during that difficult time. I had planned on quitting anyway but his heart attack and triple bypass made it a tad easier since we BOTH now quit together. Aug 6th will be 7 months smoke free for both of us!! Woohoo!Thank u for the info beagle!!

</p></blockquote> <p> </p> <p>Wow~! You have been through a ton with your family and your health as well. I really hope you are able to get approval. I will keep my fingers crossed for you!</p> Thank you!! Cross your piggie toes too! Haha. I need all the positive thoughts I can get!!

I 100% agree. My 37 yr old husband had a massive heart attack on feb 6th and a triple bypass on feb 14th. 2 days before I was told I had an abnormal EKG. My father had a heart attack at 50 followed with 5 stents and than a quadruple bypass. Watching my husband go through this and going though it myself was absolutely devastating. I'm 33. We've only been married 2 years just 3 weeks ago. The fact that I started this journey in January and continued to go forward is all thanks to my cardiologist. The day before his open heart surgery, my cardiologist Said if I do not continue forward with this procedure I will be following in my husband and my fathers footsteps. THAT was extremely upsetting to hear. I was denied by insurance but I am appealing and I'm going to fight to save my life Thanks for posting!!

Nice! Have u started any of the pre op testing?

Hey! I'm from PA, but right outside Philly. I'm not sure where ur at. I'm still pre op. I'm done all my pre op testing. I was denied by insurance but I'm doing the appeal process now. Where in Pa are you?

Can I PM you? Just a few questions about the appeal process!! Thank you for the hope. It was really starting to get to me.

I have had problems like that in the past. In my opinion I think it's because out family and friends are used to us 'fuller faced' so to speak. Look up Leah's VSG journey on YouTube. She goes off on a rant about her family doing the same thing. She did a YouTube video every week. I'm not sure what week is her crazy rant over her family (stepmom) telling hershe looks sick, when she looks incredible. Check it out Ur doing fantastic. Keep up the good work and don't let anyone stop u from where ur going!!!

So after 6 months of tests and appts I was called by the nurse at my surgeons office to tell me that my surgery was denied. I am HEARTBROKEN. ???? I have been though so much this year. As I started this journey, one month in, my 37 year old husband had a heart attack. Which then required a triple bypass because of 3 blockages. We made it through 20 days in the hospital, 6 days in the cardiac ICU. We both quit smoking, and I was determined to keep going forward with this. I kept my appts and tests even with him in the hospital. Just so I could have this done and we can BOTH start our new lives together. Because when he was in the hospital I could barely BREATH let alone eat. I lost 15 pounds. Now because I quit smoking and my husband is recovering slowly but is recovering nicely, I began to eat. I'm starving. I'm following exactly what I should and I put on 10 pounds. I started a celexa for depression and blood pressure meds a few months ago. I was denied because of the weight gain through the 3 month nutrionalist appts. I am so sad, I am so depressed. I feel defeated. I plan on appealing. I don't know how to pick myself up from this. Thanks for reading, advice would be greatly appreciated. Katie

Well that didn't go thru right. Thank u beaglelover. I needed that.

Thank you, there is a lot of good stuff in this article. I hit a wall with my letter and needed to read this today. Thanks so much beaglelover.

Seriously ironic. I have been struggling with my weight since I was 12. I remember my mom bringing to weight watcher at 12/13 years old. I have lost, gained probably over 1000 pounds since than. I have my nutrionalist appt tomorrow just incase they deny my appeal. I would have to do 3 more months of supervised diet. It's not like I gained 50 pounds, it was under 10 pound gain while my husband was hospitalized and then even home. I have never gone through anything like that in my life. We just celebrated our 2 year anniversary of being married. I'm 33. I shouldn't have watched or gone thru this struggle so early in life, but is what it is!! I'm definitely appealing. It's just my luck is what it feels like. I managed all my testing through out all that was going on with him and to be denied was a total slap in the face. BUT... God only gives us what we can handle right? This too shall pass... Ahhhh!! Hahah oh well. Hopefully all will work out. Trying to stay postive!

Hey Bruce, yeah they never coached me either. I had a lot going on during the 3 month visits. I had a gain over where I started. Soooo. My advice for the 3 month visits is to only lose a few pounds a month. As too not get too low. I'm writing my appeal letter now. I'm really bummed out still. Keeping my fingers crossed for you. Good luck and keep me posted!

Wow. U look amazing. I was denied by insurance and I'm appealing. I've been pretty down and seeing ur pics just ga e me the boost I need to keep going. Thank you for posting!! KEEP IT UP!!

Hey! I do know where Pottstown is! We were actually looking at houses up that way! I'm hopefully having mine at Abington hospital. Working on my appeal letter for insurance now.

Hey Leigh! I'm also from PA, right outside philly. Where are u exactly?? I was denied by insurance. but I'm appealing so I don't have a date right now. I'm hoping to send my appeal letter this week Katie

hello! I had surgery with Dr Bonani this past Monday after a year of insurance denials and appeals. On my third appeal I was able to speak to a board of doctors and other professionals and after letting them know my history and struggles with weight I was able to get it approved. I think a chance to raise your case personally is a great way to persuade them to approve the surgery. It worked for me. Continue being persistent and don't let denials keep you from perusing what you know you need.Thank you for this. I was feeling pretty hopeless today until I read this. I was actually thinking about just bailing on the whole thing. I know I won't but it's just so hard to keep pushing forward. I'm calling Bonnani's office now to talk about my first appeal. Thank u for ur encouragement.I hope ur feeling well!! Talk to u soon!

The nurse said she was on the phone with them all morning the day I found out I was denied. She said they wouldn't budge. I'm still working on my appeal letter. Thanks for the info tho I will double check that they did the peer review.

Yes, I did not know that rule until i was denied. My 37 yr old husband had a heart attack and a triple bypass at Doylestown hospital and was in the hospital from feb till March. It's was a crazy emotion roller coaster of emotions. I unfortunately had a net gain of 4 pounds. Ugh. Oh well. I'm appealing and hopefully that will do it. If not I have to do 3 more months of NUT visits. Praying it gets appealed!!!!

Hey! I'm in Hatboro pa, right outside philly. I'm supposed to be having it done at Abington with Dr Bonanni. I was denied by Aetna and working on my appeal letter now. Just plain sucks to go through all this just to have a big ol DENIED. But I'm a fighter, continuing to move this along an hopefully be approved. FINGERS AND TOES CROSSED!! Haha

Philadelphia Had my Sleeve done 1-23-14 at UofPenn by Dr. N. Williams 45 YO Male will be 46 August 7 hope to be down to 250 for my birthday CW 270That's great! How much have u lost so far?Just got my denial letter yesterday and I'm working on my appeal letter now. Hoping it works...

Thank you for your advice and the light at the end of the tunnel!! It was starting to dim. Thanks for posting

Good luck!! You will do great I'm sure!!

Thank you!! Working on my appeal letter now! I will let u know when it happens!! How long did ur approval take after u appealed? I know every ins company is different but just wondering

Thanks for light at the end of the tunnel! I too was denied, but for a weight gain. My husband had a heart attack and triple bypass (at 37 yrs old) and yes, I gained some weight. I just got my denial letter yesterday and plan on appealing. I can't wait until I get to come on here and scream at the top of my lungs..."I got approved!" So until then, I'm going to the gym every night with the hubs (he is doing very well) And eating next to nothing (I'm starving) :) Congrats on your approval and I hope to be not too far behind!!!