Just starting my journey and wondering how many of you got approved for surgery just based solely on BMI without any other comorbidity issues? Thanks!

^{My BMI was 37, I needed a comorbidity.}

My BMI is 42 so I meet the requirements established by my insurance (Altius Federal), but wondered if anyone had been approved solely on meeting the BMI requirements without any comorbidity issues. Thanks for sharing. Christi

As I understand it, the general rule of thumb is a BMI of 40 or greater OR a BMI of 35 with two or more comorbidities. Based on that, many people are approved without comorbidities.

Thank you so much. I am hopeful that after my 3 months being followed by a Dr. for nutrition guidance that I will be able to be approved!

My BMI is 51 with no comorbilites but I'm waiting for my insurance now. They submitted my claim yesterday.

It depends on your insurance. I got mine based on my BMI but they also said I had an easy insurance to deal with. All I had to do was meet once with a psychiatrist and a nutritionist. After that it was just basic clearance from my family dr then pre-testing at the hospital. It was almost too easy to get the surgery.

Melsauve, what insurance do you have?

Get the "cpt code" off the internet for your particular surgery. Call you insurance company and ask them what the requirements are for that cpt code. Your doctors office should be very versed on how to get you approved. When I got approved they had all kinds of co morbids that I am not so sure I agreed with, but I dont care, I got approved.

Melsauve' date=' what insurance do you have?[/quote']

I have the empire plan.

it's called the empire plan blue cross blue shield. One small perk for working for the state of NY otherwise not so great lol.

Thanks. I will check with my surgeons office and my primary care physician.

Just curious... my BMI is 46 with one co-morb. I am doing my 6 month diet. If i were to somehow reach a 40.0 would I be disqualified? Would it look bad if I did lose some weight?

Just curious... my BMI is 46 with one co-morb. I am doing my 6 month diet. If i were to somehow reach a 40.0 would I be disqualified? Would it look bad if I did lose some weight?

You are submitted and approved by your initial weigh in .. no worries !!!

You are submitted and approved by your initial weigh in .. no worries !!!

Ok great!! Ty

Just curious... my BMI is 46 with one co-morb. I am doing my 6 month diet. If i were to somehow reach a 40.0 would I be disqualified? Would it look bad if I did lose some weight?

I think the answer to this depends a lot on your insurance company but it is a valid concern. I agree with nomore that your doctor's office should be able to give you some good information based on their experience with your insurance company. You don't often hear of someone who was not approved because of excessive weight loss but that does not mean it can't happen.

My doctor's office told me when I was on the pre-op weight loss that you don't want to lose too, too much weight which could possibly lead them to deny. They also told me that once you have been approved, it would be illegal for the insurance company to resend the approval because of further weight loss. So once you're approved, you don't have to worry about it.