Hi everyone,

I know I just got started at this but I just found out today that Anthem will pay for everything but 800.00 which is wonderful butttttttttttttt,

I have to go do diet counseling for 6 months and then who knows how long after that until I can get banded. I was sooooo looking forward to

getting rid of this demon this summer. Pray for me that things will go faster, I'm so depressed now I got frustrated and said maybe I'll just forget it.

Thanks for listening to me bellyache, it is just so hard when you feel so bad all the time as I do.

Love you guys,

Sherri:(

BTW, I waited a year to get the diet program required by my insurance and it still wasn't enough for them. My co-morbidities weren't enough. I'm pretty convinced that there was nothing more I could do, so I self-payed.

My insurance required TWELVE months of supervised dieting. I said no and self-paid.

I found out in Jan that I had to do the six month thing too - and my primary dr. didn't want to do it, so I had to find another dr. -- but I did and just a week ago, finished my last apt - YEA! But now I have to get my new dr. to write a "referral and clearance" letter to my insurance co - Humana - and don't know if she'll be comfortable doing that - YIKES! IF she does, THEN I have to wait to see if Humana will cover it....SERIOUSLY NERVIOUS - you have no idea.

I went through 3 months of seminars and testing and then was told by my insurance company to go to Weight Watchers for 6 months and reapply. I was "too ready" for the surgery so I went to Mexico and self paid. I was banded on June 2, 2006 and I am ecstatic that I went ahead and did it. For me it was the right thing to do.

6/2/06

222/212/142

I am on month 5 of the 6 months diet and exercise. It really does go pretty fast. But yes it is annoying to out it on hold - and I do have the fear that despite jumping through hoops I may not get covered. But I have to at least try. 15K$ is a lot of dough so it is worth the wait in the long run...for me anyway.

I also am on month 5 of the 6 months of diet. If my insurance turns me down after this I will pull my hair out and be on the next plane to Mexico!!It has gone by quick. HopeWorks, let me know how Humana treats you, I will be talking to them in July.

PJ

Don't be disheartened .

When I first made my decision to have the lapband surgery I wanted itdone straight away. Then I discovered that my insurance would not cover the surgery so I had to "upgrade" my insurance . Then i was told there was a 12 month wait for my insurance to cover the surgery.

It seemed to me at the time that 12 monts is an ETERNITY however 11 months have passed very quickly and I now have my surgery date for 17th July.

Just remember.........Good things come to those who wait!

It all comes back to "How bad do you want this?" And can you self pay? I know most of us have waited six months or more.. I started looking into the band in Dec. 05 I knew I wanted it but could not pay so I said well I will work on my life style till I can pay... So I quit smoking, then my hubby happen to get a new job with ins. that would pay but I still can't have it done till july 25th. If you want it do the diet... and you'll get it... Like someone said earlier.. "its a lot of hoops but at least there not on fire" lol It will happen... Good luck..