Want to start this journey and wanted to know where do I start?? 36 years old and 297 lbs! yuck. Need to get on track! I've been pretending that I don't care, this is how I am and I'm cool with eating whatever I want. I've been on several diets...some successful, some I realized were a total rip off and I even worked for Jenny Craig!! I lost 10 pounds just going through training! I have Anthem BCBS and wanted to know what experience anyone has had getting it approved..

I appreciate any and all comments, Thanks!

Do it now! That's the best advice I can give you. Find a good surgeon in your area, make sure the insurance is going to cover him and the hospital, find out what else the surgeon and the insurance need to pre-approve you. Go for it!! You won't regret it!

I have BCBS and just got my letter today that they approved it. So excited. Call them and see what they require and get started.

Ok put this off for a bit but now I'm on track and plugging away. I submitted all the paperwork to the hospital and they want to get me in for my intital visit. Just called BCBS and they cover the surgery but have to do a 6 month weight management. Wish the hospital would call back so we can get this thing started, don't want to wait!

I hate to say this is good news but it is....just read the statement BCBS just sent about the surgery and they said the 6 month weight management is waived if your BMI is over 50. Well I haven't weighed myself for a couple months but I know I can say with certainity that it didn't go down!! I believe when I was last weighed it was 297?? So I'm pretty sure I'm over 300 especially since it was winter! I never thought I would hope to have such a big BMI but at least I can get this thing started quicker than the fall....I hope!

I have Anthem BCBS as well. I had surgery yesterday. BCBS needed a recommendation letter and physicians records, a psyhological evaluation, a visit to a nutritionist. According to Nicholson Clinic for a gastric sleeve had to over 40. In addition I had to list out the different weight loss programs and my success rate. The clinic I am working with submitted all the paperwork. Hope this helps.

Skinnydenise