I started the process January 13, 2011 and I have a surgery date of March 9, 2011. Empire BCBS approved me in less than 24 hours and I got a phone call frm them 5 minutes after my doctors office called and told me I had been approved. No unreasonable request... psych clearance, letter of medical necessity, bmi 35 with a comorbidity or 40 without, 1 nutritional consult, labs EKG...that's it 5 things! Very impressed, simply because because insurance can be a nightmare. Get a good doctor, make friendly with the office staff, smile a lot and tell them thank you, it goes a long, long way!

sshhh Empire BCBS is the bomb!:Banane33: my happy dance. Good Luck to all.

I started the process January 13, 2011 and I have a surgery date of March 9, 2011. Empire BCBS approved me in less than 24 hours and I got a phone call frm them 5 minutes after my doctors office called and told me I had been approved. No unreasonable request... psych clearance, letter of medical necessity, bmi 35 with a comorbidity or 40 without, 1 nutritional consult, labs EKG...that's it 5 things! Very impressed, simply because because insurance can be a nightmare. Get a good doctor, make friendly with the office staff, smile a lot and tell them thank you, it goes a long, long way!

sshhh Empire BCBS is the bomb!:Banane33: my happy dance. Good Luck to all.

I am so happy to read your post. I have BCBS Empire and I am hoping to have surgery the second week in May. My weight loss surgery office has everything they need now to send it off to the insurance. I called them today and the insurance nurse said that I was second in line for her to complete my stuff and send it off. I hope this means that it will be sent off this week and maybe I can hear back next week or the week after. I am just so anxious to know that I am approved and that I can schedule surgery. I have hit a little bit of snag. My insurance did not require a sleep study, but my weight loss center did. I was sure that I did not have sleep apnea, but of course the sleep center called me today and they say that I do. I don't want to wear a CPAP, but I will have to, in order to get clearance for surgery. I was really upset about it at first, but Idecide to try and make the best of it and move forward.

Thanks for sharing about Empire, it makes me feel very hopeful.

I started the process January 13, 2011 and I have a surgery date of March 9, 2011. Empire BCBS approved me in less than 24 hours and I got a phone call frm them 5 minutes after my doctors office called and told me I had been approved. No unreasonable request... psych clearance, letter of medical necessity, bmi 35 with a comorbidity or 40 without, 1 nutritional consult, labs EKG...that's it 5 things! Very impressed, simply because because insurance can be a nightmare. Get a good doctor, make friendly with the office staff, smile a lot and tell them thank you, it goes a long, long way!

sshhh Empire BCBS is the bomb!:Banane33: my happy dance. Good Luck to all.

I am so happy to read your post. I have BCBS Empire and I am hoping to have surgery the second week in May. My weight loss surgery office has everything they need now to send it off to the insurance. I called them today and the insurance nurse said that I was second in line for her to complete my stuff and send it off. I hope this means that it will be sent off this week and maybe I can hear back next week or the week after. I am just so anxious to know that I am approved and that I can schedule surgery. I have hit a little bit of snag. My insurance did not require a sleep study, but my weight loss center did. I was sure that I did not have sleep apnea, but of course the sleep center called me today and they say that I do. I don't want to wear a CPAP, but I will have to, in order to get clearance for surgery. I was really upset about it at first, but Idecide to try and make the best of it and move forward.

Thanks for sharing about Empire, it makes me feel very hopeful.

you guys must not be from memphis tn.i have bcbs(bull----)thay said theyidn't cover b/c of the complications from the surgery.i even went to my human resources, benefits office and talked with the rep of the company for my job.every med professional has the same issue of insurance not covering

@sun1970 king, I hope all went well. Check in sonmetime and let me know...

@cassieme1... so sorry to hear... I am in Georgia, policy holder is in New York though.... I hope things are working out for you!

Hey everyone! Sorry I don't check in very often.

Starzz, I had a very easy time with my insurance. No problem getting approved. I had surgery on May 17, 2011 and have lost 60 pounds so far. I wish you all luck!

I have Empire BCBS and I was approved in minutes over the phone today!! My drs office told me she called them to let them know she was sending over paperwork and she said they asked her a few questions and approved her over the phone!! She said she was even shocked!!!!.... I just could not believe it and I called BCBS myself today and they said the same thing its approved and covered 100% My surgery date is March 6th. Empire BCBS rocks!!

To add I have a bmi of 41 and no other issues.. I started this process Jan 21

I have Empire BCBS and I was approved in minutes over the phone today!! My drs office told me she called them to let them know she was sending over paperwork and she said they asked her a few questions and approved her over the phone!! She said she was even shocked!!!!.... I just could not believe it and I called BCBS myself today and they said the same thing its approved and covered 100% My surgery date is March 6th. Empire BCBS rocks!!

To add I have a bmi of 41 and no other issues.. I started this process Jan 21

my policy holder is New York District council of carpenters as well. My husband is a carptner in New York City Local.