So this is my story. I had cervical cancer and gained alot of weight. THat was 5 years ago. Now I want to loose it.. .I have dieted and dieted and now it is time to lapband. I have found out that I have oestoarthiritis and sleep apnea. mY BMI is 35. I want this bad. Tommorrow I go to the surgeon's office for the first time. I am going to use Dr. Joe Burnette at Albany Surgical. I am really hoping that they can get this approved by my insurance company. Does any one have an recommendations when it comes to working with BSBSI or any experience with them at all??? I am stressed already and I just got started. Just to know that I went for the orientation in April then started a 6 months dr followed diet, and now on to see if it will be approved.. whoooo. I have already went for my psych eval also...

So this is my story. I had cervical cancer and gained alot of weight. THat was 5 years ago. Now I want to loose it.. .I have dieted and dieted and now it is time to lapband. I have found out that I have oestoarthiritis and sleep apnea. mY BMI is 35. I want this bad. Tommorrow I go to the surgeon's office for the first time. I am going to use Dr. Joe Burnette at Albany Surgical. I am really hoping that they can get this approved by my insurance company. Does any one have an recommendations when it comes to working with BSBSI or any experience with them at all??? I am stressed already and I just got started. Just to know that I went for the orientation in April then started a 6 months dr followed diet, and now on to see if it will be approved.. whoooo. I have already went for my psych eval also...

I wish you well, I too have BCBS of Illinois and my BMI is 35, i have gone thru the 6 months dr followed diet, psyc exam and all. I have high blood pressure and was denied. Last week I went and had a sleep study done to find out that now I also have sleep apnea, I've never been so excited in all my life!!! lol so now I will have dr forward this info to BCBS and wait for my approval....Good luck to you and keep us posted..

I know thatt they do require two comobidities. your cordinator did not tell u that? I have sleep apnea, displidema. and oestearthritis. and a BMI of over 35 so I should be approved by the policy I do qualify but I went today and my cordinator told me that BCBSI is a tough one and that they approve very few peopple. I hated to hear that but I will darn sure appeall if they reject me.