wantlapband

My BMI was 35.2, sorry I said it was 39. I have heart disease and other stuff, my weight was 203, but I was approved. If I wasn't approved I was ready to fight. Anyways, I had the surgery sept. 20th and am feeling great, lost 22 lbs so far. Best thing for me ever, I see my cardiologist in November and he will be proud of me. Don't give up.

I finally got the surgery. My BMI was 39.3, I was denied right before my surgery. I got the letter, called my doctors office they got on the phone with BC/BS Anthem of NH, and they approved it..within 2 hours, so I was able to get the surgery done. It is the best thing I have done. Yes it was hard for the 1st few weeks, but I stick to the diet plan, and have lost 22 lbs since September 20th! I wish everyone luck! Hang in there

I was scheduled for surgery on September 20th. That week before the insurance company got my information on a Tuesday, denied me by Friday, I called teh doctors office in tears, and the surgeon and his administrative assistant contacted my insurance company and the decision was turned around and I was approved. I had my surgery as planned on the 20th. I was very worried myself, I knew that I would be denied only because my BMI is low, but I have co-morbities, but I didn't expect such a quick turn around. I think alot had to do with the surgeons office, mine was the BEST, I cannot thank them enough

The initial denial was I had a BMI of 35.2 with no life threatening co-morbities...my I do, there were two letters stating I had heart disease, one from my cardiologist and one from my primary. So my surgeons assistant got on the phone and called Anthem (NH) and it was overturned..I believe the surgeon himself spoke to the medical director that decides at the insurance company also. My surgery is still on for September 20th! There were still able to take me that day. Don't give up!

I talked to my surgeons office today after my denial letter came in the mail...only took them one day since they rec'd my paperwork. She was very upset also. She looked at all my co-morbid letters from my doctors. She talked to the surgeon, and he got on the phone with Anthem (NH) and they OVERTURNED my denial!! I am APPROVED!!!! Just like that!!! OMG...I am soooo happy. My surgery is still next wednesday, just don't know the time because they had to cancel my first time. I AM SO EXCITED!! I will keep you all posted! :clap2:

I was denied today also :think. My surgery was next wednesday the 20th. I am so upset right now. My doctors office is faxing them over some more paperwork to see if they can reconsider before appealing. My BMI is 35.2, 207 lbs. I have heart disease and other factors. I had two letters one from my cardiologist and one from my primary stating that. I have no idea what to do. Self pay is not an option. How do I use obesitylaw.com lawyers? Do you know how much it is? It might be worth it. I just didn't want to want sooo long to have surgery. I have been counting down the weeks... I HATE THIS...I just want to crawl into bed and cry and never come out. I'll be crying all day long..:think:think:think:think Thanks for listening and support and help. Debbie

I am also waiting for insurance approval. Finally the psych doctor gave the surgeon her report...she was sitting on it since august 14th!!!! Of course, no one knew this until I started calling my insurance company and they didn't have any paper work on me. They were suppose to mail it out mon or tuesday...my surgery is scheduled for SEPTEMBER 20th..Yup, and I bet my insurance company won't come back with an answer, or a denial, then I will have to appeal, and everything will be pushed back..Its very upsetting..esp. when I am trying to do the liquid diet..it doesn't help to have this on my mind. My husband needs to take time off of work, but we can't give an exact date because we have to wait for approval, same with someone walking our kids. I have HMO BC/BS of New England I live in NH. Anyone have them?

whew....I just had my psych evaluation last week, and I told her the truth about me being bipolar, but i was being managed on meds with my doctor and the psych doc...Its been three years, and I haven't missed a doss of meds and don't plan on it.. I was hospitalized 3 years ago when I first found out I had it, my mother passed away and I was depressed about it, so I thought going in to the hospital for a few days would help..It didn't do much, I realized that I didn't need to be there..so I hope they don't hold any of this against me being approved for lap band surgery. I think the main reason for my depression is being so overweight..esp. when I used to be thin. I am scheduled for surgery on september 20th.. I have BC/BS Anthem of NH..anyone else?? thanks for your help!!

If you have bc/bs/anthem of nh, please post to let me know how your approval went. I have them and are waiting for approval for my upcoming surgery in September. My BMI is 35.3 with co-morbities..I'm 207 lbs!! I gained 3 more pounds!! Thanks for you help!

I hope it is an Approval letter! YEAH..keep us posted:)

dotofoz, I decided to go to the doctors office psych. They use the same one. I went to mine first since he has known me for a few years..but he wrote nothing about WLS...it was a general 3 letter that was so impersonal. I go to day to see the psych. I'm worried about my insurance carrier BCBS Anthem (nh)...I hope they approve me, the paper work gets sent in after this visit.

irwinlaura, They weighed me at my first visit, then at my nutrion visit....I was told not to lose weight or my BMI will be too low. I am 35.3 with co-morbities. Let me know how you make out. What is your insurance carrier?

My BMI is 35.3..I was told NOT to loose weight, and I cannot go on the pre liquid diet before surgery...I had my nutrionlist appt, and my psych on monday, then everything gets set into my insurance company..I see my cardiologist on Friday..so I might have him write a letter of neccesity also. My surgery date is set for Sept. 20th, pending on approval from BCBS of NE....

That is a good letter. I have to go to another psych doc...what an idiot...I'm so mad..I feel like calling him back and telling him. I'm on Xenical also....hasn't worked yet. I have BC/BS in New Hampshire...I hope that I get approved...my surgery date is set for sept. 20th.

I'll have to look just in case. I wish I didn't have to go through the insurance company and have money on my own to pay for it up front, because that is what I would do, right from the start.

anyone have any example letters that their psych doctors wrote? Mine was terrible, nothing in it that I needed to have said. I have been seeing this guy for 2 years, then I stopped for a year, and just went again in July and told him about the surgery..so I told him what type of letter I needed to have...like I have family support, etc.... All he wrote was, I haven't seen her in a year and she says she is stable. I mean I can't send that in, my insurance company will never approve it. I'm so pissed at him. I would like to call his office and explain to him that that letter will not help me, he knew me for 2 straight years. I should have gone with the psych doc from the surgeons office, but I said oh I have my own..yeah great..now if I want to get another appt, I will probably have to wait a long time, and then my insurance approval will be put on hold because they need this letter...and my surgery will be postponed.

Time to love me... I can't wait to hear from you when you are feeling better. You will have to tell me all about your surgery...

hi, I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm afraid that my insurance won't cover me because of my low BMI, even though I have comobities. I hate this feeling. The surgeons office haven't sent in my paper work to my insurance company yet, they are waiting for my psych letter which I am picking up today and my nutrition visit which is this thursday along with another upper GI. Did you finance to pay for yourself? If I get denied that is what I would like to do, but I don't know if there are medical loans out there? Otherwise I wouldn't be able to get it.

em1125 What information did the doctor submit for approval for the surgery? I'm just wondering what type of information they send to them.... I know when I met with the surgeon, he just asked me questions, and that was it..like what I had...so what do they send?????? I'm soooo sorry!!!

oh, I have a surgery date, do you think that will make a difference to the insurance company when they see i have a date set??

yeah!! That is so soon! I am so happy for you!! I haven't heard anything yet. My first appt for testing is on August 3rd, the whole day. It would be a waste if I didn't get approved. I wonder what kind of team the insurance companies have to make their final decisions for surgery.

I didnt' know BCBS is changing its policy on WLS in 2007....I am waiting for approval..my date is set for september 20th..I think I will start calling the insurance company. I'm nervous

I'm scared too...esp only having a bmi of 35.3, with some comorbities...I have BCBS New England..My date is scheduled for sept. 20th..I have a gut feeling myself and I hate it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Let me know

My first pre-op test in on Aug 3rd..I have to go for an upper GI test too. I have bad GERD, he knows my gallbladder is gone. I don't have any money to self pay. I wish :eek: otherwise I would. Are there loans you can get out to help with stuff like this? Thanks!