My dr put me on the 2 week pre-op mostly liquid diet, and asked that I try to lose 10 lbs before surgery. Well after 3 days I've lost about 7.5 lbs. I'm fairly close to the 40 BMI cutoff (I only had 15 lbs before going under 40) and am afraid that if I go under the 40 BMI that insurance won't cover the procedure. Has anyone run into this? I have BCBS of MA if that matters.

im not sure I think once you are on the 2 weeks liquid diet you ave already been approved by insurance...I could be wronge....I have been approved nd just started te 2 week drinking and I am under the 40 bmi...I was worryed about falling under it till I was approved......Good luck sounds like your doing wonderful....

Thanks so much! I did receive approval from insurance already, but there was some wording in the letter that made me think they would be checking in again to make sure the surgery was still medically necessary. This is my first surgery so I'm nervous about following everything to the T.

Ask your doctor what will happen if you fall below. You wouldn't want to find out after the surgery that they're going to make you pay!

I thought as long as you had co-morbidities it didn't matter what your BMI was,

I called my insurance with this particular question a few weeks ago, and when I spoke with my case manager, she said that insurance only looks at the number the surgeon submits in the pre-certification papers. I then called my surgeon's office and verified that they use the starting BMI.

I would call insurance first, and then ask the office.

I have Aetna insurance. I have to wait six months before my procedure will be approved. It is the initial BMI that my surgeon recorded that qualifies me for surgery. I am to lose at least 10% of my weight before my surgery date in May. I guess every insurance is different but that is how most of them work. The one think in common most banders have is the inablility to keep weight off so losing before hand only reduces your surgical risk. At least that was how it was explained to me. My advice would be to confirm with your insurance company and get it in writing (ask for access to the policy - it's usually available online) and confirm with your surgeon or their coordinator. Hope that helps!

I have heard, also, that it's the starting weight and BMI that Insurance goes by. I just got approved for surgery, but my 2 week low carb pre-op diet doesn't start until next Wednesday. I need to lose weight with that before surgery, but my insurance is approved already. The weight loss during the pre-op is to shrink the liver, and really has nothing to do with the insurance approval at that point. That's how it has been explained to me. ( and really it makes sense). I have co-mordities, as well, so it would still have been okay for me even if I do fall below my 40 BMI after the 2 week period before surgery.

I would ask your insurance what weight they use. The last time I was weighed was when I went in to meet with the Anesthesiologist, 2 weeks preop.

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I'd say you are getting a head start! good for you. don't worry, you've been ok'd. the doc will love it!

Thanks everyone for your feedback! I spoke with my program's coordinator today and they confirmed that they only send the starting weight to the insurance company. One less thing to worry about now - although now my family thinks I'm just looking for things to worry about!!