I am new and dealing with Medicare. I was in a bad car accident in 2009 and am unable to work or move around much. My depression after the accident did not help much. Now I have packed on 70lbs since then and still gaining. I am just under 35 bmi but have a lot issues from the weight. I know you are suppose to be 35 bmi to get approved but does anyone have any tips to making sure you get approved through medicare?

Thanks

Amanda

I have medicare and had my surgery about 2 weeks ago, I know if you attend a seminar in your region then they should be able to go through all the insurance details with you. I know with me you had to have at least one morbid health condition(mine was diabetes) but the conditions can range from depression to heart disease. hope this helps

I am new and dealing with Medicare. I was in a bad car accident in 2009 and am unable to work or move around much. My depression after the accident did not help much. Now I have packed on 70lbs since then and still gaining. I am just under 35 bmi but have a lot issues from the weight. I know you are suppose to be 35 bmi to get approved but does anyone have any tips to making sure you get approved through medicare?

Thanks

Amanda

Amanda, I was on Metformin for diabetes, HBP, asthma. 5'4", 220 lbs. Medicare approved. Good luck!

Can any of you who were approved give me an idea of how long it took to get approval from Medicare? I meet all the requirements (and then some, sadly!) in terms of BMI and comorbidities, and am meeting with my surgeon for the first time on 6/6.

I have Medicare and I didn't use it for my surgery coming up on June 25th. You have to jump thru all the hoops. My husband's insurance from work didn't have hardly any requirements.

What kind of hoops are you talking about? The hospital where I plan to go ran down everything to me and it doesn't seem like there are any unusual or strenuous requirements with Medicare, at least for someone in my situation. I was just wondering how long people who used Medicare waited for approval.

Bmi of 35 or greater with a comorbidity, documented evidence of that you have obese for five years, 6 month medically supervised diet, you must show that you have participated and failed more than one program, a letter from your PCP recommending and supporting weight loss surgery, psych evaluation, all other treatable medical diseases have been ruled out as a cause for obesity, such as : adrenal, pituitary, or thyroid screening tests must come back normal and completed.

This came from the Medicare website.

As noted above in my previous post, it appears that I already meet Medicare's requirements. Perhaps I didn't make it clear that I'm hoping to learn how long it takes to be approved for surgery once Medicare's requirements have been met.

beldujour, on 16 May 2014 - 11:30, said:

Can any of you who were approved give me an idea of how long it took to get approval from Medicare? I meet all the requirements (and then some, sadly!) in terms of BMI and comorbidities, and am meeting with my surgeon for the first time on 6/6.

My husband and I have Medicare and from the first seminar to surgery was less than 4 months (close to 3). We have diabetes, HBP, asthma, heart stent...... No problem. We had to attend about 3-4 meetings, meet with the psychologist, but it was no time before we were sleeved and moving on!!!

Thanks so much, that's very helpful.