Hello everybody! I am brand new to this site and have just started the process for the Lap band procedure. I brougt it up to my doctor and he said he thinks I should be able to do it on my own but is backing me and started me on my six month diet. My concern is that right now I am 5'3'' and I weigh 237 which gives me a BMI of 42 which qualifies me for the procedure but my doctor would like to see me lose 20 lbs in my six month diet, which would drop my BMI to 38. A BMI of 40 is needed to get the Lap Band or 35 and above with comorbidities which I do not have. Has anyone ever dropped below the BMI of 40 and still get approval? I have Blue Care Network and live in Michigan if that helps. Excited to be here!

Call your insurance company and ask if they use the beginning weight or the weight at the time of surgery. I fell below a BMI of 35 (with comorbidities) on my 3 month medically supervised diet. My insurance, BCBS of IL uses my beginning BMI of 38 not my current BMI of 34.8. I just got approved 2 days ago so I know this is not a problem with my insurance. The insurance girl at my doctors office told me that Aetna is the only insurance that does not use the beginning weight but uses the weight at the time of paperwork submission. Just to put your mind at ease give your insurance a call.

Before I started losing weight prior to banding, I confirmed that the starting weight would be what was sent to the insurance company. I wanted to make sure that if I lost a bunch of weight on my own it wouldn't be held against me.

He said that losing weight ahead of time is great because it shrinks the liver and shows that you have the attitude required for the lapband.