Pnw_Red

Thanks all. My annual appointment with my doc got postponed today, so I'll have to wait until next week I guess. I'm going to go ahead and get an appointment set up with the surgeon's office and my doc's office and then start the process.

Did you all start communicating with your ins company at the beginning though? Let them know you were starting this to verify that you met all their other criteria? Or did you just start the testing and dieting and then submit it all at the end?

HI all, I'm just starting my six months of supervised diet/exercise program. I've been on Jenny Craig for a couple months, but nothing very documented. My policy info (BC/BS of IL ) specifically says that that BMI at the BEGINNING of the weight loss program is the qualifying number, and even has a paragraph that states that most people can manage to lose some weight and stick to a program for six months but after that point, it generally tapers off and/or weight gain starts. So, the policy certainly doesn't read like they're trying to "trick" people into losing too much weight to qualify. I couldn't find any info online in the patient section, but once you go to the health care provider section, it's pretty easy to find policy info. For those of you who knew of the 6 month requirement, how did you handle it? Did you just start the six month program and try to get surgery at the end, or did you check with the insurance company at the beginning and meet with the surgeon immediately, then start on the six months?

Hi everyone. I've been lurking the last few days, looking for information about the lap band surgery and how people generally feel about it. I did a little looking and discovered that my insurance WILL cover the surgery. I believe I meet the requirements of five years documented obesity (if not, it's close!) and I have a BMI of over 40. I do have to show a 6 month weight loss effort, and I'm currently on Jenny Craig, but am going to start an official six months with my doctor this week at my annual checkup. I'm not 100% sure about the surgery, but I figure I can spend the next six month carefully considering it and making efforts to lose weight so that I've got some good habits already established. (I don't have problems losing weight on diets, just keeping it off more than 2 minutes after I decide I can't stand being hungry any more.) I'm 31 and have been overweight most of my life. My mom is also considering the surgery. She has been morbidly obese for as long as I can remember also. Nice to see all the great before and after pictures and hear peoples' stories. I don't think I want to spend another ten years hoping that I'm that miraculous 5-10% who can actually lose weight and maintain the loss, so hopefully I'll be joining you all soon! I'm going to a seminar put on by a local weight loss surgery clinic next weekend, and I may schedule an initial visit just to get my weight and interest established.