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!

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...

Garden Lady,

I had my preop meeting with my surgeon today. I'm having VSG on May 12th, so I start my 10 day preop diet tomorrow. He explained a couple points about the preop diet. 1. He didn't used to have his patients do one, but then did an in-house study (1/2 diet 1/2 no diet). Within three months, he stopped it and started having everyone do the diet, because there was such a drastic difference in lover size. 2. The preop diet will make your liver flatter, making your surgery easier to perform. As an OR nurse, I can really appreciate the importance of that.

My diet is: 700-800 calories worth of high Protein low carb shakes, plus fruits, Veggies, broth, SF Jello, and SF Popsicles, with lots of Water, up to 1000 calories a day. Most important is no other carbs. Little lean turkey a few times if we're desperate.

Good luck with everything. May 12th is gonna be a great day!

Hey TK Sleever,

My program required me to lose 10% of my excess weight but over a three month modified diet. I've lost it but am concerned about keeping it off - it is hard to eat well when you are stuck with an over-priced menu at a hotel, a McDonalds, Popeyes or Arby's as your eating options. I think I did okay but it was very expensive for very little food (for example: $20 for 1 egg, one small piece of ham, three bites of hash browns and one slice of bread). And I travel next week too - the week before the surgery. I think I will do Protein shakes for like 2 meals of the day and hope that works.

Good luck with your operation! We can commiserate the liquid diet that follows... AND the great results from the efforts!!!

<p>Hey TK Sleever,</p> <p> </p> <p>My program required me to lose 10% of my excess weight but over a three month modified diet. I've lost it but am concerned about keeping it off - it is hard to eat well when you are stuck with an over-priced menu at a hotel, a McDonalds, Popeyes or Arby's as your eating options. I think I did okay but it was very expensive for very little food (for example: $20 for 1 egg, one small piece of ham, three bites of hash browns and one slice of bread). And I travel next week too - the week before the surgery. I think I will do protein shakes for like 2 meals of the day and hope that works. </p> <p> </p> <p>Good luck with your operation! We can commiserate the liquid diet that follows... AND the great results from the efforts!!!</p>

You bet! Are you doing WLS stuff on Facebook at all? I'm on there a lot more than here since I discovered all the FB WLS support groups. I'm TK Sleever on there, too, if you want to friend me.

Does anyone have standard BCBS federal? Just wondering about co-pays and everything with that. I find it funny that the premium is higher than the basic but it seems as if there is more out of pocket with it!! Anyone??

I'm not sure about my copays yet, but I have basic because when we were given the choice it just looked like everything was cheaper and covered better. I have not even discussed the exact amounts with my surgeons office but whatever it is it will be well worth it in my mind.

I have basic. I prepaid my hospital bill of $350 for two nights.

I have basic and the difference from ours was the premium and you have to choose your doctors from a select group. Although every doctor I wanted was in that group. So I'm lucking out.

I have federal bcbs basic...they made me pay 20 percent of my meds during surgery and hospital stay...total with surgeon co pay and hospital co pay my out of pocket was over 3,000! I had my surgery February 5 2014. Should I be asking bcbs what was up with that? I had to pay this total before my surgery date! Grrrrrrr....but still totally worth it. Would like refund to go cloths shopping!

I have federal bcbs basic...they made me pay 20 percent of my meds during surgery and hospital stay...total with surgeon co pay and hospital co pay my out of pocket was over 3,000! I had my surgery February 5 2014. Should I be asking bcbs what was up with that? I had to pay this total before my surgery date! Grrrrrrr....but still totally worth it. Would like refund to go cloths shopping!

I would call the hospital and asked for an itemized bill first. Then get your explanation of benefits and compare. You should not have paid that much with the basic plan.

I read somewhere that it depends on how your hospital bills. Some bill a standard amount that includes drugs, and some bill drugs separately. I lucked out, since mine bills as an episode, no separate med charges.

Did anyone one with bcbs federal basic have to write insurance co a letter explaining weightloss attempts for the year and get approved?

I thought that was why I had to complete an application at the beginning of this process that included all my wt loss attempts. Also, my primary wrote it on his referral form and then doesn't the surgeon send all that info to the ins co.? I am seeing the surgeon tomorrow morning and hope to be getting a date for surgery! It is my birthday and that is all I want. Of ourse, I do want the ins. approval too!

Did anyone one with bcbs federal basic have to write insurance co a letter explaining weightloss attempts for the year and get approved?

No. I gave all that info to my WLS center's insurance expert, and she handled it all.

Got my surgery date today!! June 17th! It is my birthday and that was all I wanted. Now hoping ins. approval goes smoothly! I feel like a kid with a new toy!

Got my approval from BCBS today and then got the call to schedule surgery. June 17th also. Getting nervous and always worrying about complications.