I am in the very, very early stages of WLS.

I attend the hour and a half seminar on May 18th, which is the first step in this process. I have a BMI of 50+ so I am under the assumption (from what I've read online) that the 6-month supervised dieting will be waived. I initially was leaning towards the sleeve. However, I am not sure at this point which would be best after all the reading I have done. The bypass may be an option as well.

I have BCBS-Community Blue through my employer. The only information I have been able to get from my insurance company is that they pay 50% of WLS. I hope that I get more information at this seminar, but I am impatient so wanted to hear others experiences here as well.

How much did you pay out of pocket (if at all) for your surgery? Have you had experience with BCBS in MI or any other state? What should I expected? What hoops did you have to jump through in your journey? What testing did you have to have done?

Thanks in advance to helping answer any of these questions. Nervous, excited and already feeling impatient. (haha)

I would not assume that your 6 month supervised diet will be waived. You need to check with your insurance company what their requirements are. They will be the ones that hold you accountable to their requirements.

For example my insurance required a 6 month supervised diet, that I use a bariatric center of excellence, that I have a BMI above 40 or 35 with comorbitities. I actually had a life threatening illness and was told it did not matter, I had to go through the process.

Now, some insurance companies don't have any supervised diet so it all depends on yours.

My insurance covered 100 percent because I had met my deductible for the year. I just paid all the co-pays for all the Drs. Appointments until I met my yearly deductible.

Good luck!