My BMI is currently 40 and has hovered around the 39.5 mark the last year. The previous 5 years, however, my BMI has been closer to 35-36. I have no comorbidities, but am being tested for sleep apnea in a few weeks. I have Highmark BS and they require a 2 year history of "severe obesity". Anyone else encountered this or have experience with how strict they are about the 2 year history?

My insurance BCBS *** blue option NY required a 5 year history of being morbidly obese and I didn't have that. I just sent in my weights from my D visits from the last 5 years and I was approved!

This is one of the reasons I am going to Mexico. I have weight cycled so much my five-year history isn't there to get the surgery paid by United Healthcare. I'm already 40 and the arthritis gets worse every year. I don't think it's fair to make us suffer five years waiting to lose weight when we've battled it our entire lives, but insurance is what it is.

My BMI is currently 40 and has hovered around the 39.5 mark the last year. The previous 5 years' date=' however, my BMI has been closer to 35-36. I have no comorbidities, but am being tested for sleep apnea in a few weeks. I have Highmark BS and they require a 2 year history of "severe obesity". Anyone else encountered this or have experience with how strict they are about the 2 year history?[/quote']

Did you get approved?

My insurance company was pretty strict about the BMI of over 40, however I have been under 40 at previous times in the last 10 years and I just submitted all my records for at least 5 years (not consecutive) that showed a BMI of over 40 ( I think it was 2004, 2006, 2007,2012,2013) which was enough to approve the surgery.

I am a yo yo dieter, and unfortunately my past 3 years history show that my BMI was between 36.6 and 41. Those times I went to the doctor and was weighed in were mainly after dieting, and didn't show me at my highest. My co=morbidities aren't bad enough for the 35 BMI, so I was denied by insurance. I'm in the process of appealing to BCBS of Alabama, but if that doesn't work, I'm heading to Mexico.

I ended up being tested and I have sleep apnea requiring CPAP. My insurance also changed. I have a BMI of 41 now, but also have the one comorbidity of sleep apnea if my BMI drops below 40. I see the weight management nurse practicioner tomorrow for my first visit to start my 6 month supervised program. Wish me luck!!!

I ended up being tested and I have sleep apnea requiring CPAP. My insurance also changed. I have a BMI of 41 now, but also have the one comorbidity of sleep apnea if my BMI drops below 40. I see the weight management nurse practicioner tomorrow for my first visit to start my 6 month supervised program. Wish me luck!!!