how long did you wait?

[brr 17]

so, I am just starting this journey and with my insurance, I will have to participate in a weight loss program for 6 months. With that, it will be mid-July once I finish the supervised program and then I assume I will have to wait for approval from the insurance company. Anyone have to participate in this long of a program? how long after you completed it did you have to wait for the actual approval and surgery?

I have to admit that I have contemplated self pay rather than having to wait what sounds like it will be a year but I don't know that I can afford it. Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated

thanks

[RJ'S/beginning 5,357]

I live in Canada. I waited 4 years. Now it is a 7-10 year wait.....

[quicy 3]

It may seem like a long time, but it goes by fast. It's important to go through the process and learn all that you can to be best prepared for the changes ahead of you. Best of luck!

[Elode 8,093]

@ I only did 3 months but most insurance company's legally have 30 days to make a decision. Mine took 6..I think

[Babbs 14,680]

Started the process in April, went through my 3 month doctor supervised diet and had surgery August 22. So about 4 months. I just lucked out because my doctor usually has a 6 week waiting period for surgery and he happened to have an almost immediate opening after I was approved.

[Pepper123 320]

Five months...then i had an emergency had to change the date twice....

[JustWatchMe 7,117]

Six months from first orientation meeting to surgery.

[Kindle 8,667]

I was self pay in Mexico but still had to wait 6 months until I could schedule the time off (a whole week!) from work.

[joatsaint 2,814]

Having sleep apnea immediately qualified me for WLS. My insurance is bariatric friendly and I was approved 1 week after my initial consult with the doctor.

I thought it might be the universe trying to tell me something - When I called my ins. company to find out how to qualify for WLS, the lady I was speaking with was 1 year out from VSG surgery. Coincidence, I think NOT!

[cdenney123 103]

I had to wait 7 months. The approval takes awhile and that was with no diet restrictions like some people have for 6 months.! Take care

[blissfulbeing 84]

The process for me took 10 months. I had to do the 6-month supervised diet, plus wait for a surgery date.

[shellbell79 44]

I live in Canada. I waited 4 years. Now it is a 7-10 year wait.....

My goodness, where in Canada is the wait that long?? Poor you!

[DgotSleeved 103]

that 7-10 year wait is almost ungodly; especially if someone wanting to do it is literally going to die without the surgery. what a shame.

[Kindle 8,667]

that 7-10 year wait is almost ungodly; especially if someone wanting to do it is literally going to die without the surgery. what a shame.

My parents have a good friend from Canada who has heart health issues. He actually travels to the US to see a cardiologist because the wait in Canada is so long when he has problems. He'd be dead by the time he got in to his regular doctor.

But get used to it folks....that's where we are headed with our national healthcare system. And that's just for the procedures the insurance companies will actually approve. If some pencil pushing bureaucrat doesn't think you need an MRI or myelogram CT to diagnose neurologic deficits in your neck or a fecal transplant to cure a C. diff infection or WLS surgery to cure obesity, then you aren't getting them. Unless you pay for everything yourself and prove they were necessary and successful, but then what's the point of insurance? Oh, yea, so the pencil pushing bureaucrat can get a paycheck!

[igotthis98 41]

My process was rather quick - 3 months from the first consultation to the time of surgery.

Edited January 15, 2015 by igotthis98