BobbieDoll

Thanks for all of the replies. It makes me feel a lot better. I am scared of the surgery but will do all that I am suppose to when the time comes. No way am I going through this and then fail. I am glad that my insurance company requires the six months program. It gives me time to be sure I am ready. My doctor wants me to attend a support group and I think that would be good for me.

I too am going through the same process and have one month left to complete the doctor supervised weight loss program. After reading all the woes about the band, I wonder if it is just a forced diet. I don't diet well so I don't want to just be on a lifelong diet and feel hungry everyday. And vomiting all the time doesn't sound good either. The talk here scares me sometimes.

I was reading posts from people who "jumped through all the hoops" to get insurance approval. If approved, they were soooo happy and excited. There seem to be so many who are not so happy anymore. What happened to the "yippee! I got approved! I am really excited!". I am close to completing all of the Cigna insurance requirements. It is crazy to think that if I am approved, I would go through with this and then let myself fail. I hope that excitement never goes away and I am going to do all that I can to make sure it just keeps going and going and going.......... ..:smile:.

I have Cigna insurance and pay 10% for surgery but don't know how that breaks down. My total will be $17k. I wonder if I will be paying 10% of that amount or if the doctor fees, etc. are paid 100%. Since it is a new year now, I have to meet the $250 deductible again. Cigna has paid every thing else so far including all of the doctor visits for my 'failed medically supervised weight loss program', the Pulmonary visit, Phycologist, Nutritionist, and Labs. It is always a surprise when the bill comes. So far all is good. My BMI is 37 so I am a little nervous about getting approved in February.

Anyone from the Eastern Plains of Colorado?

I have never seen my doctor for the weight loss supervised program. Every month I go in, it is either his nurse or the PA the sees me. The paperwork states the doctors name. Anything that needs to be signed has the doctor's signature on it even though I don't see him. They are his representatives. Just like if the nurse gives you a prescription, it has the doctors authorization because she cannot prescribe. My letter of necessity will come from the doctor, not the nurse. She weighs me and talks to me about diet and exercise, writes a paragraph for the insurance company, I nod and agree with whatever she says to do, then go away until the next month. The whole six month is just because it is required by my insurance. Even my doctor thinks it is unnecessary but we do it anyway. I am in my sixth month now. Yippee!

I saw someone who I had not seen in a year. She lost a lot of weight and looked several years older. The wrinkles in her face were more prominent. I was wondering if it is common to "age" as the pounds come off.

I have not been banded and am in my 5th month of the doctor supervised program, required by my insurance. In the past, I have always been somewhat of a "keep everything to myself" type person. I decided that I am going to tell my family, my neighbors, my friends and get involved with support groups. No more hiding. No more trying to do it on my own. I am coming out of the closet and starting a new life.

Zippykat, I also live in Colorado and am going to Dr Snyder's seminar in December. I have not seen him yet but have downloaded all of his paperwork and am in the 4th month of the required 6 month Doctor supervised program. You must have had your surgery by now. Hope all is going well for you. Bobbie

Hello all, My insurance is Cigna and I am covered for the actural surgery (code 43770) but my insurance excludes treatment for obesity. So when I go to the doctor for my required monthly visits, sometimes they are denied. I call Cigna and get a different answer every time I call, depending on who I talk to. Anyone out there have this same situation with their insurance? I am totally confused. :help: