rottimom

I also have to do the 6 months diet. I cannot even start until next month since the dietitian at my PCP's medical practice has set times during the month that she meets with everyone who is going through the program. I have to do this even though I have been doing JennyCraig for 5 months and working out with a personal trainer for 10 months. I think that Dr's and insurance companies just want to make sure that you have tried everything else. To be truthful I am not going to worry about losing weight. I am at a BMI of 40 and only have one minor co-morbisite so I am going to have to fight to get my insurance to cover so if I were to lose weight my BMI would go down. I am just hoping not to gain as I know this is no quick fix and I will still have to work at weight loss. I am taking the 6 month to get all my documentation for insuarnce together and to get all the pre-test done.

Hey Josh, While I am not banded (YET) I can definitely understand and appreciate your post. I know my weight problems have really messed me up mentally for a long time. But as I see it you did not gain a band (aka Lola) you gained a new life and that is going to take some getting used to. Please keep fighting the fight your life is so worth it. Hang in there down under!

I am in the same boat. I saw my PCP at the beginning of February and told her that I was ready for the Lap Band. She stated that before insurance would even consider it I had to have 6 months of Dr supervised diet. No ifs ands or buts. She is not going to give me a referral until then. My PCP's medical group has their own dietition so I have to meet with her once a month. I cannot even start that until the middle of March. I have tons of documentation of being on Jenny Craig twice over the years, working out with a personal training for 10 months. I am going to attend the surgeon's information presentation next month and find out what pre-op test I can get done or scheduled before insurance has approved. I am even going to ask my PCP to look at my medical records so I can document everything so she and the insurance company will have no excuses. And I am reading as much as I can on this board to learn all I can. So come September I hope to join the banders group. Good luck with your journey!

For those that have done the 6 month or more diet did you lose weight? If so doesn't that hurt your chance of getting insurance to pay. I guess the way I look at it my diet is my problem. I can eat well but I am always hungry. I exercise regularly. That is my case to my insurance company. Lucky I have proof of my attending Jenny Craig a couple times and of working out with a trainer so I think that will help make my case. I am getting my mind around the fact that I have to do the 6 months. I have been to the dietitian at my PCP's office before and I think I will only have to go in once a week. But I still have not received a return call from them

I am in a similar boat. My PCP wants me to do 6 month program with a dietitian. I think I will have to meet with them once a week. Only problem is I cannot get them to return my phone calls. Maybe if you have a high BMI and medical conditions they will take that into consideration.

Thanks everyone for the good suggestions. I have started to get all my documentation together so once the six months have passed there will not be any more delays. I am also going to attend an informational presentation by a surgeon in my area next month to see what suggestions they have. I am just really frustrated because I still have not got a return call from the dietitian that I am supposed to see about the six month diet. I have called twice and left messages. If I could at least get this first step started I would at least feel like the process is underway.

Hello Yellowroseaz, In my case I am 252 with my shoes off and have a BMI of 40. I have already done all the diets and pills. I even went to a psychiatrist to see if I had depression and he put me on a medication that was known to help people lose weight with no luck. For the last 7 months I have been working out with a trainer 3 times a week for an hour and been doing JC since Nov and only lost 1 lb so even though I do not have any medical complications I think my PC P finally realized that it was time. Now if I can just get my insurance, PacifiCare to see that. I think if you can show to your PCP that you have tried everything else he/she might see the light. Have you gone to an informational session? I am going to go to one next month to see if there is anything else I need to do to prepare. I also suggest reading the post listed here. I have been doing that for a couple of days and getting some great information. Good luck and keep in touch I would love to hear how things go for you.

I have finally decided that the LapBand is my last option. But my PCP states that I still have to do a 6 month Physician supervised diet before insurance will even consider it. These are going to be the longest 6 months of my life. I only fear that even after I get through the 6 months my insurance is going to deny it since I am only a BMI of 40 and have no co-mobity problems.

Thank for the post. I still have my 6 month physician administered diet before my PCP will submit my paperwork, but having this will help me to prepair by getting all my information together. I am going to need all the documentation I can get since I only have a BMI of 40 and do not have any co-morbid conditions.

Boy I thought I was the only one in this boat. I am also just at 40 BMI. I still have 6 months of dietitian’s consultation to go through before my Dr will even submit my paperwork to my insurance so I had a chocolate bar today without guilt for the first time in 20 years. I figured if I put on a few pounds it can only help my case to get insurance to pay. But I do not want to put on to much more. I still have a small fear that even with the LapBand taking of the weight is going to be hard. Boy how screwed up is it that we have to gain or find tricks to make our weight higher just to have this problem fixed.

Thank you so much for responding. You give me hope. I just hate to wait 6 months only to have them deny me. I have a BMI of 40 so I just make the cut off but I have no medical problems. I am 5'6'' so I could lose 100 lbs. But I have been trying for over 20 years to lose this weight and my family finally said they would support me having the surgery which I am going to need for after surgery care. So I am ready to pay for the surgery if I have to. But if insurance would cover it then I could save my money for the cosmetic surgery that I am going to need after I lose the weight to get rid of the extra skin.

To anyone who has had Pacificare HMO cover their LapBand surgery would you mind sharing what your starting weight was and if you had major medical problems? I am just starting the process to get Pacificare to cover surgery. My Dr. is sending me to a dietitian for 6 months and a physical therapist. I am only 252lbs but I have tried everything including working out with a trainer for 1 hour a day, 3 days a week for 6 months while doing Jenny Craig and did not lose a pound. I do not have any medical problems but I am not getting any younger and every year my weight keeps creeping up. I know it is just a matter of time before problems start to show up. Any advice you can share will be appreciated.