Hi All,

I'm new here - just found the site yesterday and did some intros, and there's one question i forgot to ask - i'm curious how long it generally takes btwn talking to your doctor the first time about exploring this option to actually having the surgery. i'm guessing the timelines vary. i just made an appt for this Weds to talk to my doctor about it. i've already spoken with my insurance to get the info they have on what would need to be true for this to be a medical necessity. just curious if this is something that might happen inside of a few months? or it is more likely to take 6-9 months or a year?

also - what means of support do folks use who live rurally and can't attend a lap band specific weekly or monthly support group? mostly online? do you do something in-person still like WW?

thanks so much!

thanks, everyone! I went to meet with my PCP today and brought the book of requirements CIGNA sent me. she seemed supportive of the decision and at first glance i'll meet the BMI requirement (i'm at 45 with no co-morbidity, but for CIGNA, BMI is high enough that that's ok). there will be a bunch of tests, which i'm fine running around to get done. the big question will be about the 12 months of medically monitored weight management. i've been at this for years, but i'm not sure i have the kind of documentation they'll be looking for. I did see a nutritionist for a while thru the end of summer/start of fall, and that's part of CIGNA's requirement so we'll see what they say.

Right now i'm feeling like the testing and appointments and processing are all things i'm comfortable taking some time. But if CIGNA wanted me to go through another year of medically monitored weight management, I might talk to the bank about a loan to self-pay. A lot of this is about my age and my desire to start a family - and to extend a year to do another year of (more structured) weight management and then the year that's recommended post-band before trying for a baby - I just don't want to put off starting a family another 2 years. Even if it means a loan to cover self-pay.

I had Cigna during my journey. It just changed to BCBS this month. Cigna only required a 6 month monitored diet for me. I had to go to the Doc office once a month for a weigh in. After the six months was up my Doc submitted that data to Cigna along with all my test results. Cigna denied me at first because they said the documentation was lacking. My Doc submitted samples of food journals and exercise logs that I had kept during those 6 months. With that they approved me a day later.

I also heard that Cigna has since changed from a 6 month monitored diet to 3 months. Is that book of requirements recent? If not I would call them and ask for the policy in writing again.

yea, this is the most recent book on their website (which is what the rep on the phone told me to look at). It lists 12 months of weight management regulated by doctor with 3 months working with a nutritionist.

That's horrible. That would aggravate me to no end. If I could easily work on a diet for 12 months, I would not have needed the surgery. Good luck.