Does anyone know how this works. My first dr apt is Tuesday but is my goal to lose weight? I need insurance to pay and Im wondering if I lose weight and go below the 35 bmi will I still qualify for the surgery? Of course I can lose weight but the problem is I always gain it back and then some.

Very confused, Kim

I know that with my doctor and nutritionist, they set a loss goal for me. I was to lose at least 10lbs before surgery. I really appreciated it too. The monthly visits to the NUT and weigh ins...I learned to control my portions better! Every doc is different, but they will probably discuss that with you too!

As far as the BMI, was told to try and not go too low (for the same insurance reasons). Just don't be afraid to ask the insurance co-ordinator for the bariatric surgery doctors/clinic!

Edited April 18, 201016 yr by Carosel2002

Every Dr. and every insurance company is different, so you need to get specifics from whomever you are working with for your surgery.

That said, my insurance company uses the BMI recorded on the first visit, whether it was with the surgeon, the nutritionist or anyone else on their team. The starting BMI is the one used for qualification.

As for weight loss pre-op, again, it depends. Some insurance companies and Drs. need to see you can stick to a diet and be successful at it.

I was told that I could lose weight (it wasn't mandatory) or maintain, but I couldn't gain weight. Some of the people in my nutrition classes had a certain amount of weight they had to lose pre-op.

Keep reading these boards and use the search function but be warned, you will find a million different answers for every question you have.

Good luck!

kagead

Thanks for the info, it seems as if this is very individualized depending on insurance. I have UHC PRO Choice so Im waiting back to see what I have to do prior to surgery.

I have 2 more months of my 6 month diet and I was told I didnt have to lose only that I couldn't gain any weight. So far, I've lost 6 lbs in 4 months but Im not doing a whole lot to really try.

Amber, so are you approved after the 6 month diet plan or do they re-evaluate at that time? Im confused why I have to go on a 6 month program. Did you schedule surgery already or do you have to wait until the 6 months is up?

Thanks ,Kim

My insurance requires the 6 month diet- I guess to see that you can stick to a weight loss program. Which doesn't make sense to me if you don't actually have to lose any weight to get approved.

I have already met with my surgeon who says that Im a good candidate for the surgery. I have to have a psych eval done, then after my next visit with my primary care doctor I will call the surgeon's office and they will get me scheduled for a nutrition consult, EKG, and something else. Then after my last weigh in the the doctor they can immediately submit everything to insurance.

Hi Joe. I am 7 weeks post op banding and loving every minute of it! I too had to do a 6 months supervised diet. I was expected to lose 10-12 lbs in those 6 months. I did and then I tapered off and just maintaned. I have Medicare & AARP and they used my initial weight and BMI at the surgeons office. The 6 months went by so fast. I had 3 books to read about banding (lots of good info)and I tried to practice chewing more and stocked up on things I would need post op (there is a list somewhere in the postings).

I also had lots of hoops to go through, like colonoscopy/endoscopy, lung function (I have asthma), heart sonigram (I think that was it), nutritionist, psych, plus labs and oh yeah the sleep studies.

So with all this the 6 months seemed to breeze by. Yours will too. After the 6 months was done, I just had surgery. the doctor asked if I felt ready, after I said yes really fast he said (and this is on a Friday) do you want it this next Tuesday or the next because I only do these on Tuesdays. So I went with the Tuesday in 4 days and so glad I did. I'm not sure what the insurance biller did as I never got any bills.

Good luck to you and keep posting on the forums about your progress.

Margie in Oregon

Edited April 19, 201016 yr by catmom50

I had to do the 6 month diet also. What I did was not really change my eating so much as I started exercising and lost about 16 lbs over that time doing that. I was worried also about loosing too much. Good luck to you!!

I had to do a 6 month program - I gained 10 lbs but I do have an underlying issue so I'm not to concerned. It's not like I gained another 50lbs. Good luck and it goes by faster then you think!