I am new to this site. I have started the journey to gastric sleeve surgery and hope to have surgery before the year is up. My surgeon requires a mandatory weight loss seminar that I have attended, plus a support group meeting which is also marked off the check list. My insurance (BCBS of AL) requires a 6 month weight loss plan(physician controlled) which I completed this month also. I have had a psych consult, and a cardiology consult....which I received clearance. I am just waiting on my last "check in" appointment at the surgeons office so they+ can get all of my paperwork in order and get ready to file for approval. I am 267-270 right now with a BMI of 48-49. I am very nervous about the approval process...I do not know anyone else with the same insurance as me(BCBS of AL PEEHIP)...educators insurance. I wish I could just find someone that has used the insurance to see how long the wait for approval was and if there were any problems. I do know that it pays 100% so I would be a fool not to go ahead with this. I look forward to meeting new people and getting the info I need from the gastric sleeve community! I appreciate any feedback you can give me! Thanks.

Welcome! Loads of nice people and good advice on here!

Hi Kim,

I'm also new to the boards and hope to share my experiences while learning and sharing thoughts with others. You're lucky to have 100% coverage. I have to self-pay but I'm ready to make the financial commitment as we'll. I had thought about doing this for about ten years. I've now gained further weight, but am now able to make the commitment of this surgery. I'm in the process of trying to schedule the pre-op appointments now in hopes of a mid-December surgery date. What state are you from? I'm in Virginia. I hope the approval process goes quickly and smoothly for you!

I am also new to this website. I just found out about it through a patient that I told that I had the gastric sleeve done. I don't really know how this works but I hope to get the hang of it soon. Well here is a little about myself. My name is Kathy and I'm from NY. I had the sleeve done 3 weeks ago and everything is going really well. I've lost 18.5 pounds. It wasn't as bad as I thought, but everyone is different. If anyone can help me with the website and let me know how it works I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks hope to hear from one of u soon!

Good luck to you all! I don't know about the insurance, but if you've completed all the requirements there's no reason for them to not approve you! Welcome!

Welcome! Kathy, My name is Kathy too. I live in Ga and I am 7 weeks post-op and have lost 45 pounds. Best thing I ever did! Still learning this website myself You are doing great!

Edited October 10, 201312 yr by Kathie5353

I have BCBS 100% coverage it took 6 months but it went very fast. Good luck

Welcome! Kathy' date=' My name is Kathy too. I live in Ga and I am 7 weeks post-op and have lost 45 pounds. Best thing I ever did! Still learning this website myself <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> You are doing great![/quote']

That's so funny that we have the same name!! See it was meant to be for me to sign up lol... Thank u I'm trying :-/... I'm going to start the gym today nothing crazy just cardio. I have a question for u. How long did it take u to start solids? I know that everyone is different, but I started like the end of last week and everything go's down well. That scares me a little cause I don't want to go back to my bad habits. I do get a little pain, but it's not so bad that I can't handle it.

I have Anthem BCBS (educator in ME). I also have 100% coverage. It didn't take long for approval, but my surgeon's office gets that info. and begins the approval process for its patients immediately, so by the time I was done with all the classes and pre-op. check-ups, I was all set. Good luck! I am hoping for a mid-Dec. surgery date too.

Hi Kim I'm new too I have bcbs of al and I have to do the 6 months thing also. My doc told me it's really 7 doc visit in all good luck