Hello everyone. I am now just beginning the process to get the lap band surgery done. My insurance is United Health Care through Michigan Medicaid. My BMI is 53 and I also have comorbidities. One lady i talked to said I would be required to do a one year required diet prior to be approved for surgery. I than mentioned my BMI and asked if there was any way to up the required diet time and she said possibly depending on what my pcp says. I am just wondering if any one else that has Michigan Medicaid been through the same process and how long did they make you do the required diet? I am really hoping with my BMI being way up there that it would be sooner than a year that I could possibly get the lap band. Thanks in advance for any info!!!!!

I have Upper Peninsula Health Plan (Medicaid ). I'm also just starting this journey. I have to have at least three months of trying to loose weight. I have talked to my doctor (PCP) and told her that I have tried Weight Watchers and Richard Simmons and a few other things. They don't have to be recent but as long as I have tried.

Hopefully it will be the same for my situation. I was just diagnosed a couple days ago with hypertension and want to try to drop at least 20 pounds right now to help relief pressure of my heart and lungs. I have had alot of swelling the last couple days. I hope they don't deny me. I am just so worried. I have finally come to a point where I realize that losing this weight has come to life or death for me. I haven't been to my pcp in about 4 years but when I was, I was on adipex and lost quite a bit of weight just to gain it all back, plus some. Will you keep me updated on how your process is going. Because we both have Michigan Medicazid and our BMI's aren't far off, we may have similar cases. Thank you so much for responding

I was not on medicare but my surgeon originally said I had to loose 30 pounds before surgery. They have to bur through fat in order to get to the stomach. Once I lost 20 pounds after feeling my belly felt ready to do surgery. In general some doctors require some weight loss before doing surgery so you should be prepared for that.