I started the process in Nov 13, which required six months of a medically supervised diet and many hoops to jump through. My approval letter arrived on July 14th. I've since been to the bariatric center, gotten most of my lab work done, and have just started the opti fast diet as required by the surgeon.

Out-of-pocket costs for the surgery, which the bariatric center required me to pay up front even though I don't have a surgery date yet, is around $850.00. That doesn't include lab work or the anesthesiology. Plus there was the cost of the Opti-fast--around $400.00.

My BMI is 56, plus I have high blood pressure and a C-Pap. That probably made me a shoo-in.

Congratulations...make sure to update when you get your date!

Curious. Did your policy have an exclusion for weight loss surgery? I have MM and my policy has this exclusion. I'm feeling very defeated before I've even begun.