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BCBS FED - anyone been approved for Lap Band?


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Guest Villager

Has anyone been approved or denied for Lap Band with the BCBS Fed insurance plan? I've had a couple of doctors tell me that they won't pay for it. I've also heard that they don't pre-approve and I'm wondering if that is the mix up. Thank you!

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My personal recollection is that I believe that Fed BCBS will not pay for the LapBand; however repoertedly Walter Lindstrom, an attorney specializing in obesity discrimination, has represented a client/patient and got Fed BCBS to pay for it and the hope is that all patients with Fed BCBS nationwide will be eligible for Lap Band.

Walter is an interesting guy, having had first the gastric bypass, and then the Lap Band, and I have heard him speak at a few conferences. (Not too many lawyers get invited to medical conferences!)

From his website at www.obesitylaw.com :

"A bariatric surgery patient himself (both gastric bypass and Lap-Band®) and personally having experienced the discrimination, physical and emotional pain of being morbidly obese, and now considering himself an "obese person in remission," and carries an empathy and passion to his representation that no advocate can share with regard to obese and morbidly obese clients. His personal battle to obtain insurance coverage for his treatment, combined with his extensive experience as an insurance law expert, make him the best qualified and most passionate advocate for those persons suffering from obesity and morbid obesity."

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Guest Villager

Thank you Dr. Hekier - I received a letter today from BCBS that stated they do not cover the LapBand procedure - your post will help if I decide to continue in that direction.

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You could try to call Walter Lindstrom and see what he says. Your case may be easier to handle if he has one success against Fed BCBS already.

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Thanks Dr. Heikier. I have federal Health American HMO. They will not pay for my lapband scheduled for 1 Dec 05. I have already contacted Mr. Lindstrom through his website and plan on fighting Health Americans denial.

This site is just wonderful!

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      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

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      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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