pbrown

Hello All, I was orginally told by the gal who submitts my records to the insurance company from the surgeon's office, that it takes from 3-10 days to get an answer from insurance. She had turned in my records last week as I was to have been banded today( Thursday, june 8th) . When I called on Tuesday to see oif she had talked to Aetna, she said she had and they had not looked at my records yet so we would have to postpone my surgery until we hear from them. I asked her how long does that takes and she said "they never will tell us" maybe a couple of weeks. Not sure where I go from here. Any ideas??? Just wondering if anyone else had met with this same situation? I guess I will call back to the surgeon's office in a couple of weeks and see if they have heard any thing more. Or I could call directly myself to the insurance, not quite sure which way to go, in as much as the surgeon's office made the initial request so I would kind of feel like I was butting in.

Well,today, June 8th was the day that I was scheduled to have the banding done. After a call two days ago to my surgeon's office they informed me that Aetna hasn't even looked at my records yet so we willl have to postpone the surgery until we hear from them. She said it could be a couple of weeks yet. She had just sent in my records to the insurance last week. I really wondered if this was going to happen as quickly as we had planned, after reading other people's stories about having to keep bugging their insurance for an answer. I hope that they won't wait too long to decide. I will continue to keep with the high protien diet, but know it won't be easy , not knowing when the surgery will be done. The 700 calorie a day diet is pretty limiting.

Well,today, June 8th was the day that I was scheduled to have the banding done. After a call two days ago to my surgeon's office they informed me that Aetna hasn't even looked at my records yet so we willl have to postpone the surgery until we hear from them. She said it could be a couple of weeks yet. She had just sent in my records to the insurance last week. I really wondered if this was going to happen as quickly as we had planned, after reading other people's stories about having to keep bugging their insurance for an answer. I hope that they won't wait too long to decide. I will continue to keep with the high protien diet, but know it won't be easy , not knowing when the surgery will be done. The 700 calorie a day diet is pretty limiting.

What kind of diet did your Dr. put you on for pre-op? Mine has had me on a 700 calorie high protein low carb for 2 weeks. Hope I do indeed have the surgery done next Thursday as planned (June 8th). Waiting to hear from my insurance company at this point. Will be out of town until next Tuesday so will have to check back with the Drs. office at the beginning of next week. It would be nice to know how to plan.

May 30- I am on my second week of a high protein diet. I have been to see the Dr. and have talked to all of the pre-op people. I have a banding date set for June 8th. I will call tomorrow to see if the Dr. office has sent in my infor to Aetna. I hope they will approve even though my husband says we can do a self pay, if not. It costs $15,000. for self pay. I plan to have the surgery done at Bingham Memorial Hospital in Blackfoot, Idaho about 30 minutes from where we live. I have been reading many banding success stories as well as stories of complications! That part is a little worrisome. Slippage sounds like a big deal and might mean the removal of the band. Current BMI 38.4 Weight 228:)

May 30- I am on my second week of a high protein diet. I have been to see the Dr. and have talked to all of the pre-op people. I have a banding date set for June 8th. I will call tomorrow to see if the Dr. office has sent in my infor to Aetna. I hope they will approve even though my husband says we can do a self pay, if not. It costs $15,000. for self pay. I plan to have the surgery done at Bingham Memorial Hospital in Blackfoot, Idaho about 30 minutes from where we live. I have been reading many banding success stories as well as stories of complications! That part is a little worrisome. Slippage sounds like a big deal and might mean the removal of the band. Current BMI 38.4 Weight 228:)

Hi 3Loves, I have had the Magic Bullet blender for 2 years now and I really love it. It also comes with a juicer. It even grinds coffee beans! Made fresh squeezed lemonade with it yesterday! Everyone should have this for their kitchen! so easy to use and to clean. I would reccomend this especially for those that have upcoming lapband surgery. pbrown

Hi, Has anyone had trouble getting approval by Aetna for the band surgery? I have a BMI of 38.4 and have a bulging disk in my back which I have received therapy for over 3month period on two different occassions. My surgeon suspects some sleep apnea. I have migraines that I see a neurologist for and edema in my feet and ankles if I sit too long. I have been overweight for more than 5 years. Tried phen phen and lost 50-60 lbs. eight years ago , but then they took it off the market and I had to quit it and over the years my weight came back plus 20-25 lbs. more. Then the doctor tried me on phentermine alone and it did nothing. Prior to all that I had done Weight Watchers with little success. I need to lose the weight as I have a family history of type 2 diabetes, which my mom has currently and she has had this for 30 years as she is 83 now. Wonder if this is enough info for them to consider me for coverage. I have seen the surgeon that would do the banding and have done all of the pre-op testing and will finish the last psyc. appointment today. So soon they will send this and all my medical records to Aetna as I have a surgery date for June 8th. Hope that they have all the infor they need and I will let the dr. office submit the letter etc. pbrown

Hi Linda, Thanks for the invite! I am usually running errands most of the time as my mom doesn't get around much anymore to do much shopping etc. Yes, I do have a pre-op diet of high protien 700 calories a day for two weeks prior to the sugery to shrink the liver. I am not really nervous about the surgery, but anxious to get it done. thanks

Hi All, I am scheduled for the banding on June 8th . I am from Pocatello and am having the surgery done in Blackfoot, the nearest place at Bingham Memorial Hospital. Have been to see all the needed people and my health records reside with the surgeon. So after my last psyc appointment tomorrow everything will be sent to the insurance. I really hope that they will cover it. Just got off of the forum of people who have needed to be unbanded!!! Yikes!!! I hope they are few and far between as I thought for the most part that this was a surgery to last a life time, with progress and not a step back. This doctor has not done alot of banding, but those he has banded thus far are very happy with the results. I am ready to join in. Glad there is a place to talk to other Idaho banded people. I am orginally from Boise, but moved to Pocatello when I started college and met my husband and I've lived here now for 32 years! I still go to Boise to help my 83 year old widowed mother about every 2 months!

I am looking forward to my banding on June 8th. Have seen the surgeon, nutritionist, physical therapy gal and psychiatrist and had the blood tests and chest x-ray etc. Now after tomorrows second visit with the psyc they will send the records in to the insurance company for approval. That is the big deal. I hope they will cover it. I have heard great things come from this surgery. I know it will invlove many changes in what can be eaten, but I am really ready for this change.