Jewels68

What does PB mean? Thanks Julie

I have a PPO through Aetna. I have to follow a 90 program they have setup. Onve I complete that my surgery si covered at 90% with $880.00 OOP. So That's all I have to pay up-front. Call the PPO in the morning and see if Lapband is a covered benefit. Some/most employers don't cover it yet under their plans.

My doctor does surgery in his surgery center there at the office. I was told I should be out within 4 hours.

Several of the insurance policies reqiure a 90 day or 6 month supervised diet and exercise program. Aetna's is 90 days. Have you checked with Blue Cross to see what they require? My 90 days ends Nov. 22nd with my last appt Nov. 3rd. So I hope that gives them plenty of time to get my auth for Nov. 25th. I wanted it then to recoup over Thanksgiving. But anytime in Dec. would work too.

Insurance is going great so far. I finish my 90 day dietitan thing on Nov 3rd. I hope to have surgery on the 25th of Nov. However they won't make an appt until insurance gives them the approval. I have my fingers crossed that they still have an opening. Last week I heard he had 3 openings on the 25th & 3 openings on the 26th. Are you going through insurance? Who do you have? I have Aetna through Comcast. Comcast with switching to a Blue Cross national plan in Jan. So I really would like to get this done before than. :biggrin: Even though it is also covered under Blue Cross.

Try working full-time with four kids and going to school part-time. Not alot of help around the house. Being tired 24/7 and 150 pounds over weight to someone that wants it 24/7 and weighs 145 pounds and you would want a break too. I'm hoping this weight loss will bring the spark back for me. But right now, it's just not there.

My doctor says once I'm banned have someone hide the scale. He said go to the pharmacy and weigh once a week only. I think I'll just have my daughter bring it out once a week for me. I have no will power. I'm on weight watchers now and weigh my self several times a day. lol

Pretty funny Rachel... I will be using it for at least a week or so....Or longer.

I have my fingers crossed for the 25th!!! One month from today I too hope to be banned...

Congrats!!! My doctor called today and they are just waiting to get the dietitans notes for my up coming appt Nov. 3rd. As soon as they get it, they will submit to insurance. Now I have 4 pays days to come up with $800.00 for my out of pocket.

I too have Aetna. My husbands first employer of 12 years did not allow the Lap Band. He now works for Comcast ad it is a covered benefit. We had 5 insurance policy's to pick from and all but one allowed the surgery. My mother in law has Group Health. Not sure if that's local to WA state or not. They wouldn't cover hers either. She went to Mexico and had Dr. Ortiz. She loved him. For her and my father in law to go with air fair, hotel & surgery it was under $8000.00. She now gets her fills at a local provider. Keep your chin up. I'm having my surgery next month after years of wanting it and waiting to get the money. Now I can with new insurance.

I too have Aetna. My husbands first employer of 12 years did not allow the Lap Band. He now works for Comcast ad it is a covered benefit. We had 5 insurance policy's to pick from and all but one allowed the surgery. My mother in law has Group Health. Not sure if that's local to WA state or not. They wouldn't cover hers either. She went to Mexico and had Dr. Ortiz. She loved him. For her and my father in law to go with air fair, hotel & surgery it was under $8000.00. She now gets her fills at a local provider. Keep your chin up. I'm having my surgery next month after years of wanting it and waiting to get the money. Now I can with new insurance.

My mother in law went their for her first fill. I think for the price she is going to NW fills in Arlington for the rest, they were alot cheaper and closer to home. But she went there for the first because she wanted to have them do the dye study on her first one.

Like everyone else here, not much has worked in the past. Weight Watchers several times, pills before they were taken off the market and special foods. Lost weight each time and then gained it back and then some. I take way too many meds a day. I want to be around for my grandkids someday. I want to live a healthy life style. When I found out my insurance would cover it- I jumped for joy. My mother in law went to Mexico because her insurance wouldn't cover it. She took money out of her 401k and did Lap Band in July. Now she's starting to feel & look great and my father in law said they would have lost that money anyways in the stock market. lol I couldn't believe how jealous I was when she told me she was doing it. It was something I had thought about for years but never really talked about it. Now that my husbands new company will pay for it- that's all I think about night and day. I say go for it... Do something for yourself. I know in my family. I always put the husband and kids before me. It's time for mom.

Tina~ Sorry that you were too sick for surgery this week. Get better soon. Julie

You will. She couldn't get her insurance to cover it. Although Group Health does cover it, my father in laws employer wouldn't allow it. I'm having my surgery on the 25th of Nov. (I hope) Insurance will cover it, however my doctor won't schedule anything until insurance approves. As of yesterday he still have three openings on the 25th & and three on the 26th. They know insurance will pay for it, I have done everything they have asked. oh, well I just cross my fingers that they approve it within a good time frame. My last appt with dietitian is Nov. 4th. She said she would send over to my doctor that day. From there the gal says Aetna can take between 24 hours and 3 weeks depending which RN I get to approve it. I'm sure I will be on the phone a few days after that just to check in with the insurance company. :biggrin: Good luck, and like you I CAN'T WAIT...

My mother in law went to Mexico for hers. She loves it and would do it again in a heart beat.

BlakQueen~ Good luck with your surgery. I think Lap Band is the only way to go. Who wants their whole insides taken out, shortend and re-routed??

My mother in law had hers in Mexico in July. They had her drink slim fast for 2 meals and a weight watcher meal for dinner. My doctor will give me the medi fast drinks. I guess I will be drinking 4 per day. They have to shrink your liver. I've seen several posts where it's not and they have to reschedule.

I've been on weight watchers since June. But 10 days before surgery I will do the medi-fast thing with a small weight watcher meal to lose another 10 pounds. The have to shrink your liver right before surgery to it's not large when they go in there. The drive won't be much fun. But you may even sleep all the way home.

Fleminld~ I think your doing great. My mother in law had hers done in Mexico in July and I think she has lost 31 pounds. 10 being before the surgery. 10 months wow. Did you have to do anything special for them?

Hey fleminld~ Just counting down the days until my band. I went an had my psych consult last week. I have an appt in Oct and last one Nov 3rd with the dietition and then they will send all info to insurance. I have completed everything the doctor wants and insurance so I hope the auth go fast. My doctor won't even pencil me in for Nov 24th. I just really hope I can have that date.

Thanks RestlessMonkey... I have one math class left (hate math) before Chem & 4 biology's. Then I can apply. I'm taking math again (x3) winter, then Chem. spring and biology's all next year. You can only do them one at a time here. Nursing school is 2 years. If I go during the summer 1 1/2 years. Yeah.. My goal is to complete nursing school by the time I'm 45. ouch... That sounds so old.

Good job on the nursing school. I have worked full-time since I was 16. I just went back to school these past few years. I take evening classes and on-line classes to finish my pre-req's to apply to nursing school. I hope to have my band on Nov. 24th. My 22 year wedding anniv. :wink2: My oldest is 21 and I have beening battling this weight for that long. 2 more visits with the 3 month medically supervised diet and then they should be able to send to insurance. I have done everything they have asked. I have my finngers crossed. I too really enjoy reading your posts.

Hello everyone. I finish my doctor appt's on Nov. 4th. They will then send in for auth on the 5th. My surgery is scheduled for Nov. 24th as well. I can't wait. I'm 39 married and live in Monroe Washington with 4 kids... 21.17.15.13