Butterfly512

Anyone with Medicare? How is/was the approval process and coverage for the surgery? I have BCBS thru my husband's employer, and the coverage and benefits are excellent, but I'm wondering if the coverage requirements for the gastric sleeve surgery might be better with Medicare coverage so I don't have to wait so long. I can get my coverage back because I'm entitled to it with my SSDI, so I would just like to check my options. I only have part A right now, but I can get the other benefits back as well.

I'm sure I'm not the first one to post about this. But I am really discouraged by the 6 month supervised diet requirements..or maybe I'm impatient, and just frustrated by another 6 months of the struggle and after making this decision I just want to move forward asap! Does ANYONE know of a surgeon that will "work around those requirements" is there any way to omit that?? Any advice? BESIDES the whole lecture about how it's all worth it and the 6 months will be good for me. I'm sure I might feel that way too if I'd already gone thru it, but I'm trying not to. PM me with any help you can provide. I'm in MI Thanks [emoji4]

Neither of those apply, my BMI is 39. But I'm seeing my primary care Dr tomorrow and I have a sample letter that I'm going to ask her to provide for me. I found it online.. I'm hoping she will help me with this and that it will work for the 6 month requirement. Sample-Letter-of-Medical-Necessity-with-Medical-Clearance-website.pdf

Thank you for all the information Walter, but I did have the band removed a few years ago.. about 8 months after I had the procedure done. So it wouldn't be a revision or removal..but I'm still wondering if having had the lap band and having it removed due to no weight loss and complications might make a difference still in the requirements. I have a consultation Thursday so I guess I'll find out.

Thank you orchid, I'm going to try and have that mindset about it, but I would've liked to have it done before summer instead of the struggle of dieting through another summer and not liking myself in any summer clothes ? But, it is what it is. Hopefully the 6 months go by fast.

Just asking.. I had the lap band a few years back (wrong choice) and the Dr didn't require me to complete the 6 month requirements my insurance had. ? He doesn't do the sleeve procedure and I don't want to go back to him anyways, but this 6 month waiting game has me so bummed out .. Are there any Drs in Michigan that might work around that? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks