I am just starting the process and I have my first appt. next week. How much were you requires to lose before surgery. I am doing the sleeve. My endocrinologist and I have discussed options at great length and have decided this would be the best option for me. He referred me over to the weight loss center here.

The insurance company did not require me to lose weight, but I had to go to nutritional counseling for six months. My surgeon's program did not require me to lose weight, but once you weighed in, you could not go above your start weight. So if you weighed in at 272, but went up to 281, you would get sent back to nutrition counseling until you lost the weight and got back down to or below your start weight. Check with your insurance and your surgeon's office to see if they require you lose weight. Some plans require a 5% weight loss, some require nothing!

I also had a 6 month program and I was required to lose 10% of my excess weight. So if you were 100 pounds overweight you would be required to lose 10 pounds in 6 months. It really was not a lot. Now that being said, I lost 23 pounds and the doctor said many patients do not lose a pound. So I am guessing they will still do the surgery but maybe insurance looks at it to see if you made any attempt to lose weight.

Edited July 7, 201412 yr by SherB

I was only told to lose 5% (13 lbs), so I got off pretty easy.

My doctor does not require any weight loss and no pre-op diet. Was told to just eat light for 2 days before surgery. However I want to do a pre-op diet on my own to ease the adjustment of eating such a smaller amount. My insurance didn't have any required supervised diet requirement, but my surgeon requested that I saw the NUT twice. It's crazy how much the rules vary from each doctor and insurance company.

I have to take an 8 week pre-op skills class and am required to lose 10% of my excess weight which is 11lbs. Of course, I gained like 3 pounds from my initial weigh in so I have to lose 14lbs. Given that I am having surgery, I clearly have trouble losing weight on my own accord so I'm a little nervous about this.

I was self pay in Mexico and my surgeon required me to lose 5% of my total body weight on the two week preop diet. I was afraid I wouldn't lose enough so I started 2 days early. Turns out it was easy....I lost 22 pounds in 16 days and I was only required to lose 12.

I'm only required to have 4 monthly visits and lose "some" weight. No specific number was given. I've lost 7 in the last month. Tomorrow is my second WLV so we shall see what's next.

I am required to have 6 months of nutritional counseling. There is no specified amount, but I have to lose a little every month. Any weight gain, and I can be denied. I'm 2 months in. Planning for surgery end of November early December. I am using fitness pal with the goal so losing 1 lb. per week. It automatically adjusts the calorie intake based on my high protein low carb diet. I have managed to lose weight, some came from having a stomach bug, but I'll take it. I already feel the difference in my knees. I'm just taking it one step at a time. I didn't get this big overnight, and I'm not going to lose it overnight...until I get the surgery. Lol. I wish you well on your journey. Lucretia

I am required to lose 5% (14lbs) during a 3-month period with the nutritionist before they will submit to insurance.

.

Edited July 10, 201412 yr by sandralmckeehan

I am new to this site. Has anyone used Tricare Prime Ins.? Just wondering how they handle the sleeve.

Strangely enough, I am not required to lose any weight for approval. I weight 284 pounds, so I could totally lose 10% of my weight and still be under 40 bmi. I have BCBS of California.

I am meeting with my surgeon again tomorrow and I am sure he will ask me, for the sake of the surgery, to lose weight, which is fine. Anything that makes it easier for him and safer for me is a good thing. I have a slightly enlarged liver, according to the ultrasound.

My insurance required me to lose 5% of the weight, in 6 months, I could not gain any weight or they would not consider they claim, I have BCBS Excellus.

I am new to this site. Has anyone used Tricare Prime Ins.? Just wondering how they handle the sleeve.

Sandra, there is an insurance forum a little bit further down on the main GS page. Check there to see if anyone has posted previously about Tricare. What I did after I went to the seminar was to call my insurance and ask about WLS. I spent 20 or so minutes of my time on the phone asking about the surgeries they covered and what my obligations were. So I knew going in that they covered sleeve, band and RNY, and that I had a deductible, out of pocket max and would need to go through a six month program. Grill those insurance reps. Make them earn their paycheck!!

With Kaiser, I had a 3 month "Options" class to take (12 classes) and the recommended goal was for everyone to lose 5%. That being said, the ONLY true requirement was that you could not gain any weight. If you did, you could not move forward with surgery.