I am new to the forum and have tons of questions. Tonight I went to the weight loss seminar. This is the first step for me. After hearing all the information about what needs to be done I feel like this is going to take forever. Is it possible that I get all these appointments and then don't even get approved by my insurance? There is no way I can private pay. I thought I would leave the meeting feeling excited and ready to go but to be honest I feel kind of discouraged.

I went to a seminar tonight too - probably not the same one unless you are in TN.

Best advice I have is talk to the folks at the doctor's office - especially their insurance specialist and have that person guide you.

Good luck!

I am new to the forum and have tons of questions. Tonight I went to the weight loss seminar. This is the first step for me. After hearing all the information about what needs to be done I feel like this is going to take forever. Is it possible that I get all these appointments and then don't even get approved by my insurance? There is no way I can private pay. I thought I would leave the meeting feeling excited and ready to go but to be honest I feel kind of discouraged.

If you keep reading in a lot of these forums, there are people that have waited ten years, which is crazy! I did all my appointments in January and just got approved 3 weeks ago. My first surgeon had to call the insurance company to tell them that I needed it, but he never called, then they stopped returning my phone calls and emails. I switched doctors shortly after. I realized if they don't have time for me before they take my money, what time would they have after surgery. I switched and it took them a month plus a letter from my orthopedic surgeon saying I need it for my joints. I'm being sleeved September 19th, and I'm so excited I switched doctors and waited the 6 months. I felt everything worked out for the best. The appointments will help out a lot. I'm sorry this was so long!

I suggest you call your insurance company yourself and ask them exactly what their requirements for approval are. For example, my insurance company told me I needed a BMI of either 35 plus, with at least one co-morbidity, or a BMI OF 40 plus without. Then they require 6 months of doctor visits and various tests and clearances. I knew that the tests and clearances were a non-issue. They are simple hoops. I knew my BMI was around 37, so I needed an allowable co-morbidity. The insurance company will list them. I also knew I didn't have the obvious ones like high blood pressure or diabetes, so my one hope was sleep apnea. While I started the 6 months of doctor visits, I asked my doctor to refer me for a sleep study right off the bat, so I could find out sooner, rather than later, if I qualified. Thank God, I had sleep apnea:). Once I knew I met the insurance company's written requirements, I didn't worry about it that much. It's normal to obsess over it, but realistically, they cannot write out their requirements, and then deny the claims of subscribers who meet them. It is good to speak with your surgeons office, because they know the ins and outs and do this all the time. However, it's your insurance, you are paying for a service they provide and it's your health. Don't hesitate to call them directly. They work for you. They are not doing you a favor.