Im new to all of this. Just recently decided (and got my husband on board with) getting the sleeve. Now what should I expect? How do I get started? How long does process take from start to surgery? Im nervous and scared and SOOOO afraid I will be told NO. support? anyone? :/

Sorry have fat fingers can't Txt....call your insurance company 1st....if they exclude bariatric surgery they will not pay for the sleeve. But the only way to make sure is to call. That is your first step....

Sorry have fat fingers can't Txt....call your insurance company 1st....if they exclude bariatric surgery they will not pay for the sleeve. But the only way to make sure is to call. That is your first step....

i called n they do cover it. i guess im just confused as to who needs what. the insur ppl said to call a surgeon but the seminar ebrollment for the surgeon asks for test info. lol wth?

i called n they do cover it. i guess im just confused as to who needs what. the insur ppl said to call a surgeon but the seminar ebrollment for the surgeon asks for test info. lol wth?

What type of test info?

i called n they do cover it. i guess im just confused as to who needs what. the insur ppl said to call a surgeon but the seminar ebrollment for the surgeon asks for test info. lol wth?

I called my insurance company first to find out 1) what exactly my particular policy covered with regard to sleeve and 2) what surgeons they covered in Atlanta

Like you, I'm in a small town about an hour away from the city. There's one bari surgeon in my town, but he only does band & bypass. Aetna has a long list of bari surgeons on their website, but not all are designated as a Center of Excellence, and my plan only covers those docs. If I had not called first, I might've wasted time checking out a doc who I couldn't use anyway. Most of the hoops we have to jump through are due to insurance, not the surgeons themselves. My surgeon's list of requirements was very short, Aetna's was a whole other ball of wax. I needed to have this covered by insurance, so I strapped on my best hoop-jumping shoes & now I'm 2 weeks away from surgery.

it said history of weight issues, fam history, proof of colonoscopies if done and a few other things. but I thought I didn't need that stuff til AFTER I talked to the dr? the insurance company told me to talk to a surgeon and they would figure it out between them what I need and let me know. the problem is apparently the surgeons around here u cant just make an appointment and speak to them, you have to go to a seminar first and register? that's weird bc what if I decide to go to a diff dr? ugh. lol. this is craziness...itll be worth it in the end but I guess I didn't forsee so many hoops this soon into the game

I called my insurance company first to find out 1) what exactly my particular policy covered with regard to sleeve and 2) what surgeons they covered in Atlanta

Like you, I'm in a small town about an hour away from the city. There's one bari surgeon in my town, but he only does band & bypass. Aetna has a long list of bari surgeons on their website, but not all are designated as a Center of Excellence, and my plan only covers those docs. If I had not called first, I might've wasted time checking out a doc who I couldn't use anyway. Most of the hoops we have to jump through are due to insurance, not the surgeons themselves. My surgeon's list of requirements was very short, Aetna's was a whole other ball of wax. I needed to have this covered by insurance, so I strapped on my best hoop-jumping shoes & now I'm 2 weeks away from surgery.

oh wow that's great!! congrats!! I guess im just all overwhelmed bc im so bad at being a grown up and understanding insurance and dr talk. lmao. so I signed up for a seminar and im waiting to get a list of requirments from the other surgeon I was looking at. my insurance seemed very laid back abouty it. she basically said I didn't need anything. but I feel like that was probably a mistake on her part. lol

It is overwhelming to go the insurance route, no question. I have wanted to jump through the phone & strangle a variety of folks along the way, but I just tried to tackle one step at a time. This site has been a godsend in terms of questions, information, hearing about the experiences of others, and support from fellow sleevers. Good luck to you!

well im happy for you! im glad you finally got through. and thank you. hopefully ill be looking back on this from the o.r. and giggling. one step at a time!!!