Would like to know the following things from TX teachers stuck with the TRS Activecare from BC/BS:

1. How long did it take to get approval? If not approved how long have you been working to get approved?

2. Did they require a psyche eval? Nutritionist consult? sleep Study?

3. How many months supervised weight loss did you have before approval?

4. Did you have to call them constantly?

5. Were you denied the first time? Did you have to appeal?

6. Any recommendations for people trying to get approved?

7. What plan are you on (1, 2, or 3) and what was your total out of pocket?

Thank you for your input! This will help greatly! Know there are a lot of teachers out there trying to get approved and a little hope will help!

Here are my answers:

1. How long did it take to get approval? If not approved how long have you been working to get approved? Not approved. Working on it since Oct '05

2. Did they require a psyche eval? Yes Nutritionist consult? Yes Sleep Study? Yes

3. How many months supervised weight loss did you have before approval? They want 12, submitted with 6 but not approved yet.

4. Did you have to call them constantly?

5. Were you denied the first time? Did you have to appeal?

6. Any recommendations for people trying to get approved?

7. What plan are you on (1, 2, or 3) and what was your total out of pocket? Activecare 2, about $910.00 out of pocket so far.

You just need to ask yourself if you are willing to work for it? Are you willing to invest the time and money it takes to improve you? The stress tests, sleep studies, etc are work. You must work for this. You will have to fight BC/BS if you get denied. You will need to get your paperwork together to document your weight loss attempts. (As teachers we know documentation is everything.)

The good news, is all the preliminary work is done. The hardest part is going to be putting it all together.

Here's the bad news, I already saw a surgeon (for something else), and he already told me lap band wasn't recommended for me -- I had forgotten but went back and looked at my notes I took when I went to his visit.

I may go back and talk with him as to my alternatives.

I wonder why he says that? I know with some bowel issues the LB is not recommended, but don't think the other options would help either.

Have you been to obesityhelp.com? They have clear descriptions of all the options.

Be careful... and I wish you luck!