SusanB55

I'm in Tucson, AZ

Besides your BMI at 35, do you have any of the co-morbidities outlined by BCBS? I have a higher BMI than you plus sleep apnea. I know that 35 is the minimum BMI to qualify but you need another medical problem, according to them.

I was a nervous wreck for my husband's case. We knowingly submitted with only 2 NUT appts because the office had totally goofed up when they set up all his appointments. When I called bcbs, they told me that a dr supervised appt could count as a NUT appt as long as the documentation supported it. So I said, let's try it. I was so thrilled it was approved! He has almost every co-morbidity so that wasn't an issue. Thank you for explaining that to me. My doc is super cautious and was talking about leaks and depending on the 'rind' (?) Would determine whether or not he would do both. I guess we will be submitting on me after my appt on Thursday,. I will then be in the same situation as you. Gulp! I have to pay two surgeon copays, do you? Ugh. $200 each. And times 2 people, lol. My husband reminded me that the letter we received for him was actually dated April 8th, one day after it was submitted! I was too scared to call to check know the status but maybe you should call tomorrow instead of waiting for the letter. Please let me know what insurance says! I'm rooting for you.

Are you waiting for your surgery approval? My husband and I have BCBS Fed and it was submitted to insurance on April 7 and we received the approval letter on April 13. We were surprised it came so fast. I have heard some BCBS patients hearing within 48 hours and others 3 weeks. We were super nervous too! Like you, I have a band and am going to my last NUT appt this Thursday. I hope I am approved as well for the sleeve. My husband and I were hoping to be going through this together. For 10 years we have been on different eating schedules due to my band and all the difficulties it presents. There is more to prove to the insurance for a revision. Did your surgeon tell you that the band and port would be removed in one surgery and then the sleeve would come later on? My surgeon told me this but when he saw how upset I became he said he would see how it looks when he goes in and if it looks safe to do the sleeve, he will. So I won't even know until I wake up if I am sleeved or not.

Hubby and I haven't had our surgeries yet but our NUT told us about PB2. It's wonderful! I first found it at Big Lot's but then I ran across it at COSTCO! Great deal!

I'm so glad my surgeon doesn't require a pre-op diet.

Ugh, I don't like hearing that you are hungry! I thought the surgery removes the 'hunger enzymes'? My husband is going to be sleeved May 2 and hopefully I will be approved a bit later. I have heard some people are not at all hungry post sleeve and others are. If you have boullion you can make some broth with that. Good luck to you. I hope it gets easier for you!

Congrats!!! Woo hoo!!! You go girl I hope my husband and I lose all of our cravings too!

Congrats My husband was just approved quickly by BCBS Fed. It's a good feeling, isn't it? Next up is me. Gulp! Not sure what you mean about a pre op test?

These responses give me some hope too, lol. I have a friend in Texas whom I met in Mexico getting banded 10 years ago. She had the revision to sleeve and loves it. She says that bread is really hard for her to eat, which is just like a band. She says the bread swells up and it is too uncomfortable to eat. I have been really asking her a lot of questions since my husband is getting sleeved on May 2 and hopefully I will follow if I am approved. Initially she had lost a lot of weight post sleeve but regained 40 pounds because of the sweet tea she loves so much. She says she just can't give it up.

My husband is being sleeved May 2. I have had a band for 10 years and am going through the process as well hoping to get approval for a revision. My surgeon unfilled me 2 months ago and I've been eating anything and everything ever since. I haven't been able to eat without throwing up for all these years and some foods I just couldn't even attempt. So I am like a kid in a candy store. I know I am going to regret it. If I am denied, I guess I'll have to have the band refilled and start puking again.

Sarah, my husband and I are both trying to get the sleeve. We have BCBS Fed and live in AZ. Our surgeon's office hasn't made any demands that we need to lose any weight prior to surgery nor do they believe in the pre-op liquid diet just prior to surgery. After reading so many people say they had to lose 5% before surgery, I am kinda worried now. I am currently banded but had an unfill 3 months ago and have gained about 15 pounds (last I checked). My husband has never had bariatric surgery. Thank you

Then mines must know something that so many others don't know...lol I'm running in the opposite direction. Sleeve all the way. Sent from my SM-G935T using the BariatricPal App I have been banded for 10 long years. Hoping to get a revision to the sleeve. Crissy, do NOT get the band!!! I. HATE. IT! I have gone through so much crap with the band and it has been horrible. Don't do it!!! My surgeon doesn't even do them anymore, so what does that tell you? I will be devastated if my ins doesn't approve me for the sleeve.

My husband and I are both going through all the hoops required for bariatric surgery. During all this time, nobody has said we actually needed to lose any weight and they also do not present op diets. I have gained weight as a result of getting my band unfilled a few months . Ugh!

That is the problem. My husband's first dr supervised was December 29 and the next appointment was with the NUT on February 25. Almost two months later. We didn't suspect anything and figured the office knew what they were doing. OMG, they totally screwed it up.

Ok, well thanks anyway. I hope somebody else can address this.

Hello all you lovely people My name is Susan and I subscribe to this thread and have been following it..."lurking" if you will. I am VERY angry with my bariatric surgeon's staff. Maybe you all can help me? My husband and I are both jumping through the bariatric hoops in the hopes to be approved for the sleeve. Because my husband is diabetic and his health is primary, I have been firm in that I would like him to have surgery before me. The doctor and staff understood and set up the nutrition and dr supervised appts within the 90 day period, which I know you all know about. They told him on his last appt that his 90 days start from his first nut appt, not his first dr sup'd appt. These two appts were 2 months apart due to their scheduling. So now they are saying that his 90 days extends to the end of May when it was supposed to be all wrapped up THIS month. Please advise me. Did your 90 days start with the NUT appt? Is that true? I'm so pissed. This is what THEY do all day, every day! And they screwed it up and just say "oh, sorry". I can't tell you how depressed we are over this. Thank you all.

Thank you for your comment. My husband will be 65 in April so he will be eligible for Medicare. If Medicare was primary, didn't they have to approve your surgery as well? Since I am 'only' 55, he needs to keep FEHB to keep me insured. He would then have two premiums, MC and BCBS which I am thinking would be a little pricey for us right now. One other thing, do you have BCBS Fed basic or standard? Thanks

Thank you! Do you have basic or standard? That's my biggest dilemma right now. Basic is $153 less per month than standard, but other than copays and deductible, I don't see why the vast premium difference.

I've been doing side-by-side comparisons for a couple weeks now but was hoping to hear from anybody with first hand knowledge between the two plans

Hi everyone. I have been 'lurking' in the background reading up on all the insurance posts, especially this thread as it deals primarily with Fed BCBS. My husband is retired Federal employee and right now we have APWU (Cigna) which we picked as it was the least expensive of all our choices. However, my husband (and I) would like to get bariatric surgery and he had his first appt to discuss his options. The coordinator who handles all the precert said that BCBS Fed is the best for bariatric surgery. Therefore, I am trying to decide if we should dump Cigna and switch to BCBS Fed. and if so, should we choose the Basic or Standard plan? OMG, I'm about to have a panic attack over all this! Basic is less expensive than Standard, but it seems that the plans are pretty much the same, other than coinsurance and deductible amounts. Time is running out and I must make a decision soon. I sincerely appreciate any help you all can give me.

Hi everyone. I have been 'lurking' in the background reading up on all the insurance posts, especially regarding Fed BCBS. My husband is retired Federal employee and right now we have APWU (Cigna) which we picked as it was the least expensive of all our choices. However, my husband (and I) would like to get bariatric surgery and he had his first appt to discuss his options. The coordinator who handles all the precert said that BCBS Fed is the best for bariatric surgery. Therefore, I am trying to decide if we should dump Cigna and switch to BCBS Fed. and if so, should we choose the Basic or Standard plan? OMG, I'm about to have a panic attack over all this! Basic is less expensive than Standard, but it seems that the plans are pretty much the same, other than coinsurance and deductible amounts. Time is running out and I must make a decision soon. I sincerely appreciate any help you all can give me.