I am trying for the 2nd time to get approval from bcbs illinois..for the lapband procedure. The last time, they said I needed 1 yr of documented medically supervised wt loss attemps, and more co-morbidites. I am now another yr of high blood pressure, ..I tried to do the wt loss for a yr..but failed.( ONLY DID 4 MONTHS) I got THOSE records, got a cardiologist to do tests on me, which show damage from PHEN-PHEN, got a letter from him and from my Orthopaedic surgeon, saying has I would benefit from the surgery, because of my severe arthritis and risk factors for cardiac disease, Listed everything possible I have wrong with me, weight related...and now I am waiting to hear.

My question.....DOES ANYONE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH BCBS OF ILLINOIS? HAS ANYONE BEEN APPROVED??

I ANXIOUSLY AWAIT.

THANKS!!

Cathy,

I have BC/BS of Illinois HMO and I was banded 04/09/07. I can't say that I really had a hard time with them. I had to jump thru the usual hoops but nothing major. I decided I wanted to have the Lap Band in late January 07 and by April 9th I was banded. I have no idea what my primary care physician had to go thru but maybe he could assist your doctor in navigating the BC/BS land mines. I'm the first patient my primary care physician has had that he has actually had to process thru the insurance system for the lap band. He has one other lap band patient but they were already banded when they started seeing him. Let me know if I can help in any way. Good Luck to you. It will happen!

Cathy,

I had BCBS Illinois and I had to be on a supervised diet for a year. Everything I did was through my bariatric surgeon's office rather than thru my pcp because he was a jerk. My bariatric surgeon's office gave me a recommended clinic to go to which I did. I then went back to the bar. surgeon's office and they told me what other records I needed from my pcp (5 year's worth of records!), etc. They basically held my hand the whole way and told me what to do for each step. I didn't have to deal with my pcp except to get them to send the records to the bariatric surgeon's office. That office sent everything to BCBS and then fought for me to get the surgery when BC originally denied me. Hope this info helps!

Thank you for taking the time to reply!! Actually, the surgeons office sent my paperwork up to BCBS 2 weeks ago..and I can't believe it, but I GOT APPROVED!! I WAS

Thank you both for taking the time to reply!! Actually, the surgeons office sent my paperwork up to BCBS 2 weeks ago..and I can't believe it, but I GOT APPROVED!! I Was so happy I cried. Thats step 1!! Surgery date is July 5th!!!

I know exactly how you felt! I cried too. Good luck and keep in touch.