So this might be kinda silly, but here goes.

For insurance approval - I have Empire BCBS - we need to prove prior attempts at weight loss. I was never able to do anything like Weight Watchers and the like because my parents never really had any money to spare, you know? So I did over the counter things: Slim Fast, tried a few of those silly diet pills. I've kept a record over the past two years or so of my weight, marked it on the calendar at the end of every month. But I don't have any doctor - and I've seen plenty - ever telling me that there was something specific needed to be done, just that I was too heavy and to do something about it.

My PCP already wrote a letter of recommendation because he thinks that this surgery is a good idea - he's the one who recommended it. Should I have him write another one explaining this, too? It's not that I haven't tried, it's just that I haven't tried the way they want me to have and it's a little frustrating.

Help? Thanks.

You best bet might be to see if they deny you because of not having a history, then appeal by stating the AMSBS has stated that pre-surgey supervised diets don't have an impact on the effectiveness of surgery and in addition BCBS has removed the requirement in several states as a result of the position paper.

More information can be found here http://s3.amazonaws.com/publicASMBS/GuidelinesStatements/PositionStatement/ASMBS%20Position%20Statement%20on%20Preoperative%20Supervised%20Weight%20Loss%20Requirements.pdf

If the link doesn't work, go to www.amsbs.org and look under resources for the position paper

Yes in the letter my PCP wrote it listed out my prior weight loss attempts. You should have him make another letter saying all the diet drinks and such that you have tried.

Thank you both for your replies! Turns out I didn't need to worry about it. I don't know what happened but while I was in with my PCP talking to him about this and having him write another letter, I got the call that I'd been approved! So thanks again, I appreciate it!