NicoleW8ing

We simply can't afford it without insurance. I'm young, as is my fiance, we have 0 established credit. We both work full time and are in school school full time. Unfortunately, there's not enough money to go around, you know? Thank you for your kind words. Your thought process makes a lot of sense and it is good to hear that you and your husband decided to go with the healthy route. It's one thing that really irritates me about this country... how the health insurance companies rule the roost. If my doctor and I agree on a procedure being healthy and extremely beneficial for me, I don't understand at all why an insurance company has any right to deny it, whether you're underweight, overweight, whatever... C'est la vie. Thank you again!

Lol! Thanks Kat! BTW, looking at your weight ticker is very inspiring. Awesome job!

Hey Guys-- Just a quick update. I called Blue Cross/Blue Shield and they just received my pre-certification claim today. I will know whether I am declined or not for sure by Monday. I'm praying my lil heart out that by some grace I don't get declined at all and won't have to deal with the appeal. If they approve me, I am on track for a March 19th band date. *sigh* Here's hoping!

You guys have really pulled me out my slump, by the way, thank you. I was just distraught this morning. Here's the situation as of close of business today: Losing weight is not an option. Not because I can't but because BCBSNC calculates my BMI for the surgery out of the AVERAGE of my last 5 years weight. I am the heaviest I have been, but not by much. My average is at 50.9%. Sooooo close. I wish I could just drop the extra weight and be done with it and get it approved. I'd have no problem doing that if it were an option at this point. Things aren't so bleak though I guess, just delaying my surgery date of March 19 till ?? when my appeal goes through. Truth be told, I haven't been denied yet, so God could smile on me for a moment. I'll have an update from the insurance of whether it is covered or denied by the end of next week. If it is denied, it is off to appeals I go. You know.... insurance shouldn't be able to decide what is appropriate for me if a Doctor says otherwise. But that's just this liberal's decision. Lol. Thanks people. By the way, all you banders are lookin HOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!! Keep it up!

Well, my coordinator at the Doctor's office said it, the one who does my pre-surgery work up. Here's the link to BCBSNC's documentation on morbid obesity. https://www.bcbsnc.com/services/medical-policy/pdf/surgery_for_morbid_obesity.pdf Notice page 5, number 3, where they "frown" on banding for people with a BMI > 50. I am more than frustrated with the insurance company demanding which surgery is appropriate for me, especially considering that LAP BAND is LESS EXPENSIVE than gastric bypass. Also, I have seen data showing that while gastric bypass does have a great UP FRONT weight loss, lap band equals out to the amount of weight loss over an 18 month period.