I am just starting all of the paperwork with my doctor. I really had to think hard about the answers to the questions. I know it is going to be a long journey as I have just begun. I hope I can even have the surgery done. There are a few other things that may complicate it more. Like my enlarged heart, prader willies, hyper thalamic and sleep apnea.

Good luck!

Please make sure you really think about possible complications. I shrugged it off and I'm now the 1%. 6 weeks in the hospital, ventilator almost died. Not trying to talk you out but make sure you really understand what could happen.

I have gone through a weight loss program twice with my primary care physician and both times the surgeons office said I didn't have sufficient documentation to get approved by insurance. Where is the best place to go to get proper documentation?

I am also just starting this journey and have so many questions. My first visit with the Nutritionist and Behaviorist is Dec 10th. I called my insurance (BCBS) and was told they will need 12 months of documented weight loss attempts. That alone is discouraging. I hope I feel better after I talk to someone that isn't reading from a script at the insurance call center. Any suggestions?

I would never want to categorize anyone here- I'm so happy for every one of us here who's decided to take this journey toward bettering their health! What I seem to find though, is a high level of discouragement from folks who, while they may indeed have that lifetime of attempts to lose weight, their attempts were made independently (even though possibly with accredited weight loss companies like Jenny Craig or WW). When they do decide to have WLS and begin all of their scheduled clearances, they contact their insurance only to find out that there's a period of physician supervised weight loss/documentation that has to be attained.

It's true that insurance company reps read off of a script, and that they're not perfect. In fact, I was told multiple times by multiple reps that my particular policy didn't require physician supervised prior weight loss attempts. I got to where my surgery date was scheduled, and was then informed that in the interim, the policy had changed and I did now have to have 6 months of documented weight loss- talking about running a race to be tripped at the finish line! Fortunately, as part of my "am I really sure I want to do this" preparation, I had worked with my physician & dietician for well over a year before deciding on WLS. My surgery date remained what it was, and everything turned out fine...but that was a terrible week or so when I was scrambling to get the paperwork turned in- stress no one needs to have!

Everyone should make decisions in their own way, but to toss my proverbial 2 cents in- I would recommend going through the physician supervised weight loss attempt before diving headfirst into the WLS surgery world. Most insurance policies will require it anyway, doing it first may save you some heartache in the long run, and who knows- following a diet plan that's been tailored to what you need may be enough to lose the weight without surgery.

Hi Suze.

Please don't get me wrong. I totally agree with the insurance company wanting to make sure someone is committed to this new lifestyle. I think I was prepared for it to be 6 months. A year just seems like a long time to wait and I don't like thinking about another year of struggling

I'm not sure I can take a year of the ups and down of my weight, which is why I want the surgery. No matter how hard I try, the weight doesn't come off and I get so frustrated with myself.

I know the feeling. Trying so hard but the weight won't come off. Now I am struggling with my white blood count being low. More downs for me which makes me mad.

I just want to know if it's better to go to a weight loss clinic rather than your pcp. I went through my pcp twice in 2011 for the initial (6 month diet at that time) and the surgeons office said the documentation was insufficient.

Where do you go to get proper documentation?

Catie, what is causing the low what's blood count? It's so had when you are just trying to make yourself healthier and hit so many roadblocks. I know it will be worth it in the end but until we get there it will be a lot of hurdles to jump.

Hello everyone first I would like everyone is talking about how long the process is and it's discouraging please remember your life is worth it , look at it as a means to prolong your life your working toward saving your life not doing nothing which will limit your life , ask yourself this question aren't you worth saving, aren't you worth living a healthy life for yourself first then your loved ones . Depending on your insurance and your current health your preparation time can go from 2 weeks to 6-9 months trust me your going to need this time to prepare mentally and physically for this procedure it's not just about taking test, your mind has to be in the right place that you want to make the necessary changes in your life to save your life . We all know doing nothing and the same thing for making poor decisions is what hit us into this shape . Now we are offered another opportunity to get healthy take it your worth it . Stop making excuses why your afraid you are worthy of living . Trust me its do worth it. By the way we have all been their with the your dieting número use weight lost program but this program works. Good luck .

I'm not sure I can take a year of the ups and down of my weight, which is why I want the surgery. No matter how hard I try, the weight doesn't come off and I get so frustrated with myself.

Who is your insurance? A year is long to wait, but if you really have to wait that long, just think no matter what the year is going to go by regardless so you might as well do all the requirements, you don't want to regret when the year is up if you didn't do it. My insurance is Blue Shield of California I had to wait 6 months, my last diet documentation visit will be 12/16/14 at first I was like it's going to take forever but it flew by. Then I have my 4 hour pre op class and they will submit authorization rqst to my insurance.

I have BCBS of NJ but live in MA. I am hoping for 6 months, too. I had blood work done on Tuesday and am waiting the results. I am going to do everything that I am told to do because I am going to have this surgery because I am worth it.

Not sure about your insurance company or not but mine required I use a certified center of excellence however I could use my doctors office for 6 months supervised weight loss portion of the program. I started at the doctors office for the first month because I wanted to get things moving, when I got to the end and we went to turn in the paperwork, there was a question about one missing month that I then had to fight through with my insurance company. It did not take long to clear it up but it would have been much smoother had I started and continued with the surgery center of excellence from the beginning.

I went to a Bariatric surgical center also. They had seminars they offered twice a month presented by one of the Bariatric surgeons that explained all the different types of surgeries, what was required from different insurance companies to qualify what thinks you are required to give up and a lot of other information for those who are thinking about surgery. You filled out a questionnaire and gave them your insurance information. Some one from the center called you back within a week or two and told you exactly what your insurance company required. The supervised weight loss diet was done by dietitians that are a part of the program thy included group classes and individual appointments monthly to guide you and help you meet insurance requirement goals