Hi guys! I've been lurking around this forum and finally decided I'd join. This forum has been incredibly helpful so far in terms of helping me to reach my decision to pursue VSG surgery. I'd like to introduce myself, and tell a little of my journey. At the end of the post, I'd like to ask a few questions, if that's alright with everyone! You all seem so, so helpful and sweet.

Well, I'm Jenn, I'm 27 and from Long Island, NY. I've always been heavy. I've been heavy since 5th grade, pretty much. I can't say that I haven't tried everything, because I've *literally* tried everything. I've always been a yo-yo dieter, constantly trying to find something, anything, that could work for me. I'd lose a bunch of weight each time, and feel great, but it was never long lasting. I'd always gain the weight back and then some. Losing weight was never the issue, it was always keeping it off. A few years ago, when I was 20 or 21, I actually made a consultation to have the lapband surgery. Luckily, things fell through, and at that time, I wasn't serious about committing to all the pre-surgery requirements. Now, my 20 year old sister is just waiting for her approval from Cigna. I've watched her struggle throughout the process, but her determination is inspiring. I wanted to do the surgery, but didn't have health insurance to help pay for it.

To make a long story short, I now have health insurance (united healthcare community plan) and I've spoken with the surgeon and the insurance company, and I'm totally surprised they cover it! So, I'm about to embark on my journey. I have my informational seminar (required) on Thursday, and then I will make an appt. for consultation. I'm so excited, I can't even begin to tell you! I love the fact that (hopefully) my sister and I get it done and we can do it together. She's my bestfriend and having someone else close to you go through what you're going through will be a huge help.

Here's the dreaded questions I'm hoping someone can help me with.

- Does anyone have united healthcare community plan insurance (medicaid plan) and know what the requirements are? They were kind of vague when I called them and they only mentioned a 40BMI, which I do have.

- I'm starting a very intensive masters program for my social work degree in September at a school in NYC. I will also be doing a very intensive 3 day a week internship from September till May. If I get the surgery relatively soon during school and internship, will it be possible that I can recover in time and not miss TOO much? How long did it take everyone to return to work or school, etc.?

- Does every insurance require the 6 month supervised diet/weigh in?

- My BMI is currently a 44. If I drop below a 40, which is doubtable, would I still be covered?

Thanks so much guys and girls! You've all be so inspirational!

Hi Future!

Welcome to the group. This really is a sweet, supportive group. I don't have UHC Community, mine is UHC Choice. They require a documented 5-year history of a BMI 40 or above. I did drop below 40 during the time I was taking chemotherapy, but I also had documented hypertension and sleep apnea (we sent the study.) No other requirements. I can't speak to recovery because my surgery is this Thursday.

Best of luck to you and hope to see you here again.

G.

Hi guys! I've been lurking around this forum and finally decided I'd join. This forum has been incredibly helpful so far in terms of helping me to reach my decision to pursue VSG surgery. I'd like to introduce myself' date=' and tell a little of my journey. At the end of the post, I'd like to ask a few questions, if that's alright with everyone! You all seem so, so helpful and sweet.

Well, I'm Jenn, I'm 27 and from Long Island, NY. I've always been heavy. I've been heavy since 5th grade, pretty much. I can't say that I haven't tried everything, because I've *literally* tried everything. I've always been a yo-yo dieter, constantly trying to find something, anything, that could work for me. I'd lose a bunch of weight each time, and feel great, but it was never long lasting. I'd always gain the weight back and then some. Losing weight was never the issue, it was always keeping it off. A few years ago, when I was 20 or 21, I actually made a consultation to have the lapband surgery. Luckily, things fell through, and at that time, I wasn't serious about committing to all the pre-surgery requirements. Now, my 20 year old sister is just waiting for her approval from Cigna. I've watched her struggle throughout the process, but her determination is inspiring. I wanted to do the surgery, but didn't have health insurance to help pay for it.

To make a long story short, I now have health insurance (united healthcare community plan) and I've spoken with the surgeon and the insurance company, and I'm totally surprised they cover it! So, I'm about to embark on my journey. I have my informational seminar (required) on Thursday, and then I will make an appt. for consultation. I'm so excited, I can't even begin to tell you! I love the fact that (hopefully) my sister and I get it done and we can do it together. She's my bestfriend and having someone else close to you go through what you're going through will be a huge help.

Here's the dreaded questions I'm hoping someone can help me with.

- Does anyone have united healthcare community plan insurance (medicaid plan) and know what the requirements are? They were kind of vague when I called them and they only mentioned a 40BMI, which I do have.

- I'm starting a very intensive masters program for my social work degree in September at a school in NYC. I will also be doing a very intensive 3 day a week internship from September till May. If I get the surgery relatively soon during school and internship, will it be possible that I can recover in time and not miss TOO much? How long did it take everyone to return to work or school, etc.?

Hi jen and welcome to the forum. We are all very supportive and great with answering questions. I can only answer one question but need to ask one in return. The recovery time all depends on your body honestly. How are you having your surgery done, laproscopic or open? For laproscopic recovery is alot quicker people i know have gone back to work in as little as a week. Everyone is different though. Good luck [=

- Does every insurance require the 6 month supervised diet/weigh in?

- My BMI is currently a 44. If I drop below a 40, which is doubtable, would I still be covered?

Thanks so much guys and girls! You've all be so inspirational![/quote']

-d'andra

Hi guys! I've been lurking around this forum and finally decided I'd join. This forum has been incredibly helpful so far in terms of helping me to reach my decision to pursue VSG surgery. I'd like to introduce myself' date=' and tell a little of my journey. At the end of the post, I'd like to ask a few questions, if that's alright with everyone! You all seem so, so helpful and sweet.

Well, I'm Jenn, I'm 27 and from Long Island, NY. I've always been heavy. I've been heavy since 5th grade, pretty much. I can't say that I haven't tried everything, because I've *literally* tried everything. I've always been a yo-yo dieter, constantly trying to find something, anything, that could work for me. I'd lose a bunch of weight each time, and feel great, but it was never long lasting. I'd always gain the weight back and then some. Losing weight was never the issue, it was always keeping it off. A few years ago, when I was 20 or 21, I actually made a consultation to have the lapband surgery. Luckily, things fell through, and at that time, I wasn't serious about committing to all the pre-surgery requirements. Now, my 20 year old sister is just waiting for her approval from Cigna. I've watched her struggle throughout the process, but her determination is inspiring. I wanted to do the surgery, but didn't have health insurance to help pay for it.

To make a long story short, I now have health insurance (united healthcare community plan) and I've spoken with the surgeon and the insurance company, and I'm totally surprised they cover it! So, I'm about to embark on my journey. I have my informational seminar (required) on Thursday, and then I will make an appt. for consultation. I'm so excited, I can't even begin to tell you! I love the fact that (hopefully) my sister and I get it done and we can do it together. She's my bestfriend and having someone else close to you go through what you're going through will be a huge help.

Here's the dreaded questions I'm hoping someone can help me with.

- Does anyone have united healthcare community plan insurance (medicaid plan) and know what the requirements are? They were kind of vague when I called them and they only mentioned a 40BMI, which I do have.

- I'm starting a very intensive masters program for my social work degree in September at a school in NYC. I will also be doing a very intensive 3 day a week internship from September till May. If I get the surgery relatively soon during school and internship, will it be possible that I can recover in time and not miss TOO much? How long did it take everyone to return to work or school, etc.?

Does every insurance require the 6 month supervised diet/weigh in?

- My BMI is currently a 44. If I drop below a 40, which is doubtable, would I still be covered?

Thanks so much guys and girls! You've all be so inspirational![/quote']

Hi jen and welcome to the forum. We are all very supportive and great with answering questions. I can only answer one question but need to ask one in return. The recovery time all depends on your body honestly. How are you having your surgery done, laproscopic or open? For laproscopic recovery is alot quicker people i know have gone back to work in as little as a week. Everyone is different though. Good luck [=

-d'andra

I am on United, and as far as I know all their plans require 40 bmi or 35 with complications, 5 years of weight records, a nutritionist consult and a psychological evaluation. The community plan may vary slightly, but I think they're all pretty much the same across the board. Good luck!

Thanks guys! So this is a stupid question, but I take it I can just get the 5 year weight history from my regular PCP? Would it matter if in between that time frame I dropped below a 40 bmi? So I take you there was no 6 month weigh in for you guys? Thanks so much!!! Can't wait to get things started

I too am new. My surgery is scheduled for June 22nd. The bumps I've run into so far is with the psych exam. It was hard to find a psych that had an appointment open. They were booked out for weeks. Unfortunately I didn't realize how important that eval was. Plus my insurance BCBS Illinois requires 2 sessions 10 days apart. I wasn't able to schedule a surgery until that was finished and submitted to my insurance. i began this journey in March and wanted to have it end of May beginning of June. I'm a teacher and would then have the whole summer to recover. I left the psych at the end. Rats...so if that is a requirement start working on it now.

Plus I did not have to have physical proof of all the diets I've attempted. Dates and names were sufficient.

I too worried about the BMI. My doctor explained that dipping below the 40 is not a problem once you've started the journey because it shows you are adopting healthy behaviors.

Fingers crossed!

Very cool! So you started in March and will have it done June 22nd?! That seems so quick! Thanks for the info about the bmi...that was very helpful to know. Good luck on your surgery and congrats!!