So I have insurance through Aetna, and I've read other posts saying that people have had to do 3 or 6 month supervised diets before the insurance would cover it. I really don't want to wait that long! Is there anyone out there that had Aetna that hasn't had to do this???

Good morning. Aetna is still doing the same thing I see. 8 years ago the day before my surgery they called to tell me that they would not pay for my surgery because I hadn't been to a dietician for 6 months! You might as well get going, because they stick to there decisions!

Aetna required me to have 4 consecutive months visiting Gastric doctor ( no breaks 4 months straight), 1 psychiatric evaluation and 1 nutritional evaluation. I completed all the requirements within the 4 months and after submitting paperwork to Aetna I received approval in 9 days and just had my surgery January 28. My group insurance with Aetna became effective August 2012. I was 268 at 5'4 with sleep apnea and knee problems. I had no other medical issues and I was approved. Good luck and all I can say is follow their request and look forward to your approval. The waiting period help me to adjust my lifestyle to the new eating habits. So use that time to mentally prepare for your life long change. Joke between me and my sons is if it was easy we wouldn't need surgery. I was shocked at the some of the foods i was learning to wean myself off of prior to surgery was difficult.

Of course I'll do what I have to do to make this happen..I'm just impatient! Taking that time to adjust to my new lifestyle will be very beneficial--I hadn't really thought of it that way. Thanks for the replys!!!

I have aetna, but my employer opted out of those requirements. They only require that I have "tried and failed" to diet in the past.

My husband has Aetna and I had the same guidelines as Brite.

We have Aetna and I had to to the 3 mos. It goez by fast. Not a quick process

I have Aetna also and I too am very impatient, but frankly I realized quickly how many things I needed time to organize my life before I do this. I have to arrange time off work, gut my kitchen, get back to journaling my food and getting back to exercising regularly. I also realize that I should probably finish some projects at home that I may not have the energy after. I have been grateful for the extra time.

I've got Aetna. My first appointment was in October. They said I had to do 90 days multidisciplinary meetings- I went in Oct, Nov and Dec. Saw the surgeon in January. I thought I'd have a decision by now. Instead- I have another visit with the NUT in February (their request) and they want two years of medical records documenting my weight. It's aggravating but I'm going to jump through their hoops.

I was hoping to be down a lot by my daughters graduation in May. I'm starting to loss hope.

I've got Aetna. My first appointment was in October. They said I had to do 90 days multidisciplinary meetings- I went in Oct' date=' Nov and Dec. Saw the surgeon in January. I thought I'd have a decision by now. Instead- I have another visit with the NUT in February (their request) and they want two years of medical records documenting my weight. It's aggravating but I'm going to jump through their hoops.

I was hoping to be down a lot by my daughters graduation in May. I'm starting to loss hope. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

I feel the same way! I'm in a wedding in June and would like to be atleast 40lbs down by then..

I had to do the same as LaKimmie. I had to do the 3mos visits then counselor and dietician, then provide medical records for two years showing weights at GPs office visits. Provide diet history and doc BP and and blood sugar info. They denied first time then surgeon sent letter showing two years of weights documented and the approval was sent in less than ten days from the letter and info he sent. This is just my two cents worth but I kind of agree that looking back it was good to have that time for me to mentally prepare because the liquid diet was not easy but I was mentally prepared for it and stuck to it. My liver looked beautiful because of which made my surgeon very happy with me. Then I had hiatal hernia repair and my doc kept me in liquids for 6 full weeks postop. So the mental prep was important. Plus you just have to overcome some mind games with yourself getting ready from nerves to planning your family support system etc when you have major surgery.

I've got Aetna. My first appointment was in October. They said I had to do 90 days multidisciplinary meetings- I went in Oct' date=' Nov and Dec. Saw the surgeon in January. I thought I'd have a decision by now. Instead- I have another visit with the NUT in February (their request) and they want two years of medical records documenting my weight. It's aggravating but I'm going to jump through their hoops.

I was hoping to be down a lot by my daughters graduation in May. I'm starting to loss hope. [/quote']

They did that to me 10 yrs ago, when I wanted RNY. Jumped through all their hoops for months. After about 6-7 months, they denied me. This go round, I wasn't wasting time with them. Paid cash.

It's aggravating. And frustrating. But I'm trying to stay positive.

I'm still waiting to hear. I'm hoping for some miracle where there going to go ahead and approve me without having to do the 3 or 6 month supervised diet...since I have been dealing with this since I was 7 and no one could ever tell my parents why as a 7 year old I gained 70 lbs in one year. So not letting this weight thing alter my life any longer. 14 years is long enough!

So I heard from my surgeon's coordinator yesterday..and the insurance company won't approve my surgery until I've been at the same job I'm getting my insurance through for 1 year...which is May 29th. I was discouraged at first that I have to wait 4 more months, but then I thought I should go ahead (since I have the time) and do the 3 month supervised diet. That way when May 29th rolls around, I'll already have that covered and they won't have a reason to deny me or drag this whole process out. Any thoughts? For those of you who did the three month supervised diet...how does all that work?

I have Aetna. I met with the Nut three times well four she wanted an extra visit. I was not required to lose a set percentage. The program wanted to see me lose. I had to journal everything. When I am fully cleared this month they want me to use that training to eat for the rest of my life.