Can You Get Approved For Lap Band Surgery If You Have No Health Problems?

[myownjourney 47]

I know I'm posting a lot of questions but this is the only place where I can get answers lol. But I want to get the surgery but I have no obesity related diseases. I'm pretty darn healthy. Is having a bmi of 46 going to be enough? I want to lose weight before I develop any obesity related diseases.

[Ashleigh'sMom 4]

That's the same way I was. Starting weight 255, BMI 43, no high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, nothing...just heavy. Very healthy, and I was approved on the first try! I decided I wanted the band in September, and had my surgery Nov. 22. I didn't not have to do a pre-surgery diet or anything. I am now down to 225 lbs and doing very well with the band. It was truly the best decision I have made. I have United Healthcare Insurance and no trouble getting approved. As long as your BMI is greater than 40...you are not required to have other health problems. Good Luck!!!

[Shellyac 22]

You should be able to get approved on your BMI alone. You typically only need to have a comorbity if you are between 35 and 40

[KhadijahRose 66]

I (thank God) have no health issues other than being considered morbidly obese by way of my BMI and am approved and will be paid for 100%.

[TexasDianne 5]

My BMI is...I dunno...5,000 or something. Okay, 56. But I have no health issues other than the fact that my arm reaches out and grabs any partially hydrogenated, fat laden food I walk by. :-)

No problem here.

[wjross 3]

I had no real issues other than having a BMI of 42 and was approved instantly based on my BMI alone. Min BMI is 40 for insurance approval so I literally could not loose any weight prior to my pre-op appt. My initial weigh in was 255 so you should be fine.

[Amee Rae 9]

My BMI is a little higher than yours (52), and I have no health problems. I had no trouble getting approved for surgery. I actually got approval in one day!

[BewhoGodcreatedmetobe 124]

i have the same concern. i am 26 with a bmi of 46 and i am seeing my nutritionist now. My insurance asks that i see a nutritionist for 6mths (once a month) before approval. So at what point am i suppose to go to a meeting in which i am given information regarding which procedure i should get? I was told that the lap band has too many issues and that the gastric or sleeve is better. #confused

[Jim1967 3,569]

I definitely recommend you reach out to your insurance company and ask for their written policy surrounding weight loss surgery. Insurance companies can be a real pain in the butt. You and I could have the same exact insurance company but yet different rules may apply based on what your Employer purchased.

That's of course assuming you are not a self pay patient....if you are then rock on!!

[Jim1967 3,569]

i have the same concern. i am 26 with a bmi of 46 and i am seeing my nutritionist now. My insurance asks that i see a nutritionist for 6mths (once a month) before approval. So at what point am i suppose to go to a meeting in which i am given information regarding which procedure i should get? I was told that the lap band has too many issues and that the gastric or sleeve is better. #confused

I would recommend locating a local seminar you can attend to hear all the pros and cons surround the various procedures. There you can ask all the questions. Seminars are free as well.

[Shellyac 22]

The decision of what procedure to get is up to you and your doctor. The most important thing is that you get the procedure you are more comfortable with, for most people with the band the fact that you're not cutting your stomach and not rearranging your digestive system was a major reason for choosing the band, at least it was for me. You should also consider what life will be like after surgery. For sleeve and bypass patients, you don't have to follow up with your doctor as often as band patients. Also the process of getting to optimal restriction is often not easy and can take several months and for some people who had to revise from the band never found that green zone. You should also consider how your eating habits will have to change for each procedure, each procedure has it's own set of issues.

Also keep in mind that if you want to have the sleeve you will need to make sure that your insurance company will cover it for your BMI, some companies only cover it for patients with a BMI of 50 or higher but this will probably change relatively soon.

Finally there is a new procedure called plication where your stomach is folded in on itself and sutured in a sleeve instead of being removed. Initial results show similar weight loss to the sleeve but with fewer complications and this procedure should also be reversible. Since it is new it's not covered by insurance companies yet as a stand alone procedure but they will cover it if you are also having the band at the same time. The benefit of having the combo procedure is that plication seems to eliminate some of the common band complications like erosion and slippage and it should also help you to not be able to cheat the band because your stomach size is reduced. There aren't that may doctors preforming the procedure yet but it's starting to become more common. The main drawback is that there isn't that much long term data on the procedure.

[BayougirlMrsS 3,938]

Same as Ashleigh'sMom for me.... no other problems except my bmi was 40.8...5'2.5" weight 223.2 Surgery was Nov 10, 2009... went today for my two year check up....although i gained a few over the holiday.... my bmi is now 26.86 Weight 146.. (was 143).. but i got a fill today and should be on the right track again soon. Thought i had 10.9 in my 14cc band, but in a year .9 disappeared... he gave me .5 today. Wish i would have told him to do 1cc... maybe i'll go back in 6 months.. but at $275 per fill... i don't know

so YES you can to answer your question..... Good luck

[Jess55 97]

As long as you're insurance has no extra requirements, you should be fine to get approved. I was approved a day after submittance and I had no health problems. I was perfectly healthy, just fat unfortunately.

[mdlapband 30]

I didn't have any co morbitities, but my husband had 2. I think my BMI was 48 or something like that. I was approved first and the insurance company gave him all kinds of grief. But he was finally approved and we had surgery on the same day.

That makes absolutely no sense to me. I feel like insurance is just a game, whoever reads the file that day makes random decisions with no rhyme or reason.

[myownjourney 47]

Omg thank you... I have kaiser insurance so Idk much about the requirements just how much I have to pay ($15). Its smart that you don't have to have any other health problems ... I don't want any health problems and that's why I want the surgery