Hello all, I am new here. My PCP broached the subject of bariatric surgery recently. I am pretty interested. Has anyone dealt with this insurance company recently and bariatric surgery? When I called they told me the first step is to do 12 months of a documented weight loss program before anything else related to surgery. Timing wise, I found this a bit discouraging- as I have time intensive goals next september. Anyone have experience going through Horizon NJ Health? Thanks.

Hey thanks for getting back to me I wrote down the requirements from insurance hut never a packet. Im also going to dr. Fried I think hes also in ocean for my nutritionist visit luckily its covered cause I have 3 I have to go to I found out called coordinator again to see if she found out and she told me I was right but he still wants me to go to 3 but can be done in a month or whenever doesnt have to be 1 a month for 3 mths! I been researching vsg for months now im ready so im glad I dont have the 3mth wait! Im hoping I van get all paperwork in for june surgery! Donu have a date? U excited?

Lol yes he did sound kooky I see him this friday!

Have you seen Dr. Fried yet? He sounded a little kooky on the phone and didn't really know what to do. I have my appointment on Monday with him. I'll have to double check on the three visits just to be safe! I have heard something similar to what mrsbailey said. I've managed to make all my appointments before my second visit with the surgeon, so I'm hoping he will give me a surgery date then! I'm hoping for June. How many visits did you have with the surgeon before you got your date?

Oh so I'll see him before you do. I'll have to keep you posted. He didn't seem to know what he's supposed to do. He was asking me! I was like idk, you're the doctor!

So it has to be 3 visits, at least 2 weeks apart?

Ariellestarr, yes the visits have to be at least two weeks apart. Some are saying 3 visits only but I'm going through carepoint health for my surgery (they accept horizon nj health through all hospitals that participate) and my nutritionist is through my hospitals bariatric program and the requirement according to them is 5 visits, not 3. I'm doing way more than 5 visits so it's not a problem for me but it doesn't hurt just to double check...I do recall a few months ago my old nutritionist saying 3 visits with each visit being 2 weeks apart. That may be accurate. I am going through a hospital program so maybe that's why 2 extra visits are required...hmmm.

Either way...I am positive that each visit must be 2 weeks apart at least!

Ms . Bailey yes ur right it cant be 3 nutrition visits in a monthnthatbwas just the example she gave me she wasnjust saying it can be back to back but not once a month for 3 mth. So happy I dont have to wait 3 mths

Ok thanks for getting back to me on that one lol.

Thanks, mrsbailey! It's a lot of work running all over to see different doctors. I have my nutritionist appointment on Monday. Hopefully he knows something about it. I'll call the surgeon as well. I have about two appointments on each of my days off until my next appointment with my surgeon. It will all be worth it in the end!

Hey ariellestar how did your appt turn out withndr. Fried? I spoke to the cordinator at dr. Wasser office and because im going to a nutfitionist thats doesnt participate with the hospital it just has 2 b 3 appts I have them all sfheduled before may 22 so its almost under 2 wks but I called ins company and everything and they said nothing with it havingbto b 2 wks apart. I know everyone sqys different but I think its all who u see caue ins does not say it HAS to be 2 b wks apart. Tell how u made out imsee him on Friday and yes he was the same way with me asking what I need to do but my surgeon gave me a sheet to take with me

Hey ariellestar how did your appt turn out withndr. Fried? I spoke to the cordinator at dr. Wasser office and because im going to a nutfitionist thats doesnt participate with the hospital it just has 2 b 3 appts I have them all sfheduled before may 22 so its almost under 2 wks but I called ins company and everything and they said nothing with it havingbto b 2 wks apart. I know everyone sqys different but I think its all who u see caue ins does not say it HAS to be 2 b wks apart. Tell how u made out imsee him on Friday and yes he was the same way with me asking what I need to do but my surgeon gave me a sheet to take with me

forgot this part not sure if I mentioned it technically ins requires only 1 nutrition visit but my dr wanted for me to do 3. Crazy ins always changing requirements always gotta keep up with them!

Hey ariellestar how did your appt turn out withndr. Fried? I spoke to the cordinator at dr. Wasser office and because im going to a nutfitionist thats doesnt participate with the hospital it just has 2 b 3 appts I have them all sfheduled before may 22 so its almost under 2 wks but I called ins company and everything and they said nothing with it havingbto b 2 wks apart. I know everyone sqys different but I think its all who u see caue ins does not say it HAS to be 2 b wks apart. Tell how u made out imsee him on Friday and yes he was the same way with me asking what I need to do but my surgeon gave me a sheet to take with me

He was kooky, just as I thought. Didn't really do anything for me nutrition wise. He examined my abdomen, took height, weight, and blood pressure. Then went into his office and wrote up a letter for the surgeon. He just read it to me as he went along, adding some nutritional information. I double checked with the ins specialist at the office. She said ins is happy with one appointment, but the in house dietician does 3 because she gives a lot of info.

Also, the only thing he told me to do was keep a food journal and come back in a month. Idk if I want to go back though lol he said "they" (insurance) probably want to see that I went back. I think that was bs, but whatever...

@@HealthynHappy How was your appointment with Dr Fried?

@@HealthynHappy How was your appointment with Dr Fried?

hey it went well I seen him todqy he talked a little wbout nutrition but didnt make me do a journal or anything not sure why but I have been on my own diet and lost 14lbs so he seen the beginning weight from a month agobut he was pretty easy going he printed me up som3 things to read. Before I left I made an appt for next Friday so I have 2 more visits so they defenetly dont have to be 2 wks apart I think its just the drs preference cause ur right they told me the same ins onky cares about one visit but my dr wants me to see him 3 times. Ill keep u posted if he makes me write a journal! Take care thanx for checking up let me know when ur almostvready to summit to ins I hope it comes fast for u

@@Ms Bailey hey hope all is well I told u I would keep u posted just wanted ti let u know that the nutritionist doesnt has to be scheduled every 2 wks they were right with what they told me its pretty much get it when u can and if that means once a week thennthats okay cause thats how I scheduled mine! Hope this helps it pays to keep up with insurance and how they like to change things! Take care hows ur process going?

So actually they can be all done (3 visits) in a month just wanted to clear that up.

hey it went well I seen him todqy he talked a little wbout nutrition but didnt make me do a journal or anything not sure why but I have been on my own diet and lost 14lbs so he seen the beginning weight from a month agobut he was pretty easy going he printed me up som3 things to read. Before I left I made an appt for next Friday so I have 2 more visits so they defenetly dont have to be 2 wks apart I think its just the drs preference cause ur right they told me the same ins onky cares about one visit but my dr wants me to see him 3 times. Ill keep u posted if he makes me write a journal! Take care thanx for checking up let me know when ur almostvready to summit to ins I hope it comes fast for u

I hope it comes fast too! Did he sit in front of his 3 computers when talking to you? I think he was googling everything I talked about. Maybe he had a little time to prep for you after he saw me lol. You said your surgeon gave you an info sheet? What are some of the things on it?