If you have Federal Blue Cross Blue Sheild, you should be happy! I'm on my dads plan and he has the basic plan but they paid for my surgery 100%. The only thing I had to pay was a $200 copayment to my surgery and $175 for my copayment for the hospital. I orignally was going to do the band, but they don't cover implants and it would have cost me almost 3 grand. I'm so happy it was so cheap for me. I'm so excited for the future. I'm currently 1 week and 4 days post op, I've been on a liquid diet for 2 weeks and 4 days and I've lost 25lbs since I started my liquid diet. I'm so happy. I had such a horrible time trying to lose weight because of my knee and back pain made it almost impossible to exersice very much and I'm hoping once I get down under 200lbs, I hope the pain will fade since I assume it's my weight causing it since I've had test and x rays and all kinds of stuff and doctors can't find anything wrong with my knee or back. So fingers crossed!

Wow! That was quick. My coordinator told me last week that BCBS should have my file early next week (meaning this week), so I am hoping I hear something by the end of the week. I have two questions. How did you find out you were approved? If you don't mind me asking - was your BMI under 40?

I have federal BCBS and my insurance did the same thing! They covered 100% minus the $250 hospital copayment. I love them!!!!!!

Wow! That was quick. My coordinator told me last week that BCBS should have my file early next week (meaning this week), so I am hoping I hear something by the end of the week. I have two questions. How did you find out you were approved? If you don't mind me asking - was your BMI under 40?

That's great I bet you will be hearing by the end of the week! I actually called BCBS and found out by calling the pre certification phone number and then not even three hours later the nurse at the surgeons office called and told me I was approved. Yes my BMI is 48, and I don't mind you asking.

Did you have to take the MMPI test to fulfill the

psychological assessment requirement for federal bc/bs?

That is a 500 plus questionnaire that my dr's office states I must take before I see the Psychologist to qualify for

the surgery.

Did you have to take the MMPI test to fulfill the psychological assessment requirement for federal bc/bs? That is a 500 plus questionnaire that my dr's office states I must take before I see the Psychologist to qualify for the surgery.

I had to take an assessment but it was only about 100 questions I think. Not 500 for sure. I took it at the psych eval.

Thank you for your reply.

Yes, I did take MMPI test. I passed. I didn't really realize you could pass or not pass, but the NP told me that she recvd 4 reports for the psychologist the day she received my results and I was the only one who "passed".

BCBS approved me within a week. They also sent me a letter informing me that they had approved the hospital stay.

I didn't have to take the MMPI, just a shorter one when I went for my psych eval. Also, I prepaid my hospital bill today. I'll be in two nights, and my portion is $350.

My insurance (BCBS federal) seems to have taken only a day and a half - I checked on Tuesday afternoon to see if they had gotten the submission and they said it wasn't there yet. But come Thursday morning (yesterday), I got a call from the bariatric center telling me that it was approved.

My center required a whole slew of psychiatric questions - three "tests" on the computer and three pen/paper. The funnies part of the final meeting with the psychiatrist was when he told me I was an "unconventional thinker". I had been told this by previous bosses but never by a psychiatrist - I think this might make it official :-)

My surgery is scheduled for May 12. I'm not too concerned, per se, but I'm traveling for work the next two weeks and there isn't a whole lot of food options available. I'm taking my Protein shakes with me but I'm really going to have to watch what I eat for the other two meals!

I have Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield and mine took a little over two weeks to get the procedure approved. I had to provide office notes for the past 2 years saying I that I was obese for that long also paperwork that I was attempting to lose weight for the past 2 years. I tried sensa, doctors shakes and all the diets you can imagine but I didn't have the paperwork for those. Luckily I was seeing a weight control doctor for 1 year and that with gym membership was enough. so far what I read on my insurance booklet is that federal BCBS PPO pays 85% of all the cost plus $250 co pay for the hospital. I will be 2 weeks out and I haven't received any bill but this is what I know for sure the insurance covers.

My paperwork was submitted on Tuesday. I called BCBS today and they said it was pending. They need a call from the surgeons office. Yikes! I called surgeons office and left message. Now I am really worried

My paperwork was submitted on Tuesday. I called BCBS today and they said it was pending. They need a call from the surgeons office. Yikes! I called surgeons office and left message. Now I am really worried

Lolly, did you get your approval yet? It seems to move pretty fast...

GardenLady,

I just received my approval this afternoon! My BMI was under 40, so I'm guessing that's why it might have taken since last week. I have an appointment next Thursday with cardiologist to get cardiology clearance then I meet with surgeon to sign consents. I guess that's when you schedule a date. I am pretty excited and scared. I ran into a friend tonight who had gastric by-pass and she looked pretty bad. I think she's lost too much weight. She was all shrivelled (spelling?) up. Where are you in the process?

GardenLady,

I just received my approval this afternoon! My BMI was under 40, so I'm guessing that's why it might have taken since last week. I have an appointment next Thursday with cardiologist to get cardiology clearance then I meet with surgeon to sign consents. I guess that's when you schedule a date. I am pretty excited and scared. I ran into a friend tonight who had gastric by-pass and she looked pretty bad. I think she's lost too much weight. She was all shrivelled (spelling?) up. Where are you in the process?

my surgery is scheduled for May 12. I'm traveling this week and next so I'm really nervous about keeping off the weight I've lost - I've already checked with the surgeon - no weight added is the requirement. I'm wondering if I could do a liquid diet next week just in case...I'm not real confident in that but it might be my best option...