Hey,

I have been deciding on having surgery for a while now. I just switched from thinking about having the band to having the sleeve done. Now that I made up my mind, I am scheduled to meet with a surgeon next month. I know that I have to do the 3 month diet before I get approved. I am wondering if I can use Weight Watchers. I don't have a nutritionist in my area that is covered and my surgeon is out of state so I can't use theirs. I am hoping to have everything done and ready for a surgery date in April. Any advice on the Aetna process would be great. Thanks!

I have Aetna, my BMI was 40 and I used a surgeon at Center of Excellence. I had 2 nutrition visits, one psych visit, a gall bladder ultrasound, a sleep study and 3 months consecutive month visits with my surgeon. I was not required to lose any weight prior to the surgery. I had to complete a detailed intake packet that listed detailed attempts at weight loss in the past and I needed a letter of recommendation from my pcp.

Have you checked with Aetna about your specific policy and it's WLS requirements? Not all policies have the same requirements. Your surgeon's office should have an insurance coordinator that will confirm your coverage and the specific requirements too. You may be able to do your weigh ins with your pcp.

I started the process in January 2013, approved in June, surgery July 22.....good luck!

I have Aetna and I had to do 6 consecutive months of dr visits with documented proof of weight and a dr prescribed weight loss plan, a nutritionist visit, a psych eval & my dr required a scope test down my throat to check for hernias etc before surgery as well as I asked for a gallbladder test.

When I called before they told me to print out my policy and then my doctor can explain it. Yea that's no help. I read it and it says either 6 months supervised diet or 3 months supervised diet with visits to a nutritionist and personal trainer. I am hoping I can just do all this through my surgeon. I have heard that sometimes Aetna excepts WW as the diet which would be easier than traveling out of state to my surgeon every month for the weigh in.

I also have Aetna and just completed my six months of visits on January 10th. The doctor's office submitted my case for approval today. I am a little apprehensive, but who knows, I may get approved.

When I called before they told me to print out my policy and then my doctor can explain it. Yea that's no help. I read it and it says either 6 months supervised diet or 3 months supervised diet with visits to a nutritionist and personal trainer. I am hoping I can just do all this through my surgeon. I have heard that sometimes Aetna excepts WW as the diet which would be easier than traveling out of state to my surgeon every month for the weigh in.

Yes weight watchers is considered a supervised diet plan and thus can be used to satisfy Aetna's requirement.

I did 3 months supervised diet plan plus 3 nutritionist visits .... No personal trainer. still took nearly 6 months because was hard getting all the appointments set up

Thank you! I am calling tomorrow to set up some appointments. Hoping to get everything done by April for surgery

Is this really true I have this insurance and if so this would save me at least $500..I will join weight watchers like tomorrow if this is true...anyone let me know...send me a message THANKS

From what I have learned, WW can count as your 3 month diet. You would have to ask about you specific plan but as long as you keep the sticker book with your progress, it should count

For those with Aetna.....did you first consultation count or did they count your second visit towards your supv diet

Ladies, I would call Aetna to ask if WW is allowed. Based on their bulletin 157, weight watchers does not qualify. Read below.

http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/100_199/0157.html

For those with Aetna.....did you first consultation count or did they count your second visit towards your supv diet

A consultation doesn't count from what I've heard.