I have had the consult with he doctor, the psych and nutrition appt. I have to get clearance from my PCP, who says I will regret this surgery, and doesn't want to give me the clearance letter. I am hoping to get the letter this week. Then my doctors office will send everything for approval. I have anthem blue cross blue shield. They said it takes about 30 days to be approved. What is everyone else's experience....does it always take 30 days, does it take longer sometimes? What are some reasons that insurance will deny it? I'm so scared I won't get approved for it.....

Thanks!!!

Hey Culver!

I have BCBS of IL (Anthem is close to the same benefits I have) It didn't take me very long to get the process moving before I got my approval in a week. It depends how busy the medical team is BCBS. They have there own set of doctors that makes the medical decisions for WLS and or any type of surgery. Ask your doctors office on how quick they get there approval's back. Since it is almost the middle of the year you might have a longer wait. Hopefully that isn't the case and you get approved and have patience! Good Luck on your journey!

-Amine

I hope it doesn't take too long! I'm so ready to have this done. Thanks for the info

I have Aetna and it took exactly 1 month.

A month isn't too bad. But I'm sure it went by slow for you

1 month is a cake walk. Cigna required 6 months of supervised diet. It seemed like time had stood still at some points but now it feels like a lifetime ago..

Wow! 6 months is a long time. I had Cigna a couple of years ago, glad I don't have it now.

I also have Anthum BCBS and I'm sorry to say I was denied... My bmi is 38 and I have no co-morbids.. It took about three weeks fir them to give me an anwser and i was crossing my fingers the whole time.. am sure if your bmi is 40 or above you will get approved quickly. June 1 my husbands insurance changed to united healthcare...they require me to have a bmi of 40 and 6 months of nutritionist ... I'm looking into self pay so I can start my journey.

Good luck to you I really hope you get your approval very soon!

I have United Healthcare, but bariatric surgery under my plan goes through Optum Health. I started my journey in Feb; but it took until December before I could have surgery.... six months of nutritionist visits, upper GI, blood work, pysch evaluation, and two required support group meetings!

The wait was depressing, since I wanted to loose the weight sooner than later, but now that the surgery is behind me it was worth it! I should mention that it took until March before I started to see weight loss--after the third fill. It was a long start before I could even begin.

I have horizon bcbs- took almost a month. My pcp was against it as well- I found a new one that would be supportive.

I also have BCBS it only took about a week for approval I had a BMI of 45 without any co morbidities good luck

I have united healthcare military west (tricare) and had my approval on day 6.

I have united healthcare military west (tricare) and had my approval on day 6.

Wow that's great Rebeccawks I too have tricare prime and I have my psychiatric appointment tomorrow.hope it goes well :/kinda nervous that's the last thing I have too do beside I guess 4 more months of nutrition visits with my dr. Since everyone says tricare west needs 6 months of it I've only done two should I wait to finish all six months then submit my paperwork to the insurance or submit after my psychiatric appointment ..gosshh I need some helpful info if anyone has any

I have UHC Optum Health, approved in less than 1 week. Surgery scheduled for 20 November.

I have Aetna. I had to do four months of supervised visits including various tests they decided they needed. Happily I didn't need a sleep study or endoscopy or anything like that. Just routine blood work and an EKG and a breathing test. Easy-peasy. I had to have a psych eval and a couple of meetings with a nutritionist. Then I had a five week nail biter of a wait for my approval and surgery date.

Culver,

I have BCBC IL and I was approved in 9 days. That is even with the Christmas holiday in there. I hope you and everyone else still waiting get quick yes replies from your insurance companies!