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Empire BCBS NEW YORK

Bedwards32

By Bedwards32, in Insurance & Financing

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Bedwards32    98

Bedwards32
Posted (edited)

I went for my 1st appt with my surgeon on 6/29 and with my insurance which is Empire BCBS of New York, I have to have a clearance letter from my primary Dr, sleep apnea evaluation, psychological evaluation, nutritional evaluation, 3 yrs of medical records and I have to do a 7 month weight loss program. Plus a nutrition class & a support group meeting. Hoping it goes quickly!

Edited by Bedwards32

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Teesaa    30

Teesaa
Posted

Good luck. I hope you get a prompt answer from the insurance. Keep you posted.

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Teesaa    30

Teesaa
Posted

Wonderful news. ???? It will be here before you know it. I think mine is going in to the insurance company next week. I hope I get an answer as quick. Mine hinges on if they will accept 2 years of weight watchers with doctors notes. If mine is successful I think I will be with you in August. Keep you posted.

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Teesaa    30

Teesaa
Posted

I believe I have the same insurance as you (bedwards32). So my good news is I just got approved today!! Just a little over a week shy of 3 months from start to finish. With all the changes in requirements I was a bit surprised. So this was my timeline and I hope it is of some help to you.

Information session May 28th. Consult with surgeon June 12. In preparation for my surgeon visit I put together as much information as I could find on my weight loss journey and put it in a log. Luckily when I changed doctors about 6 years ago my records were put on a disc and I was given the paper copy so I went through it with a fine tooth comb for anything to do with my weight history. I also had a record of every Weight Watchers visit for the past 2 & 1/2 years.) I did all the tests required and was finished with them by 7/23. The other thing that helped me is I have an auto immune disease and for the past 2 years I've been to the specialist at least every three months. His records were included in my submission. My packet was delayed going to the insurance for several weeks because the coordinator was on vacation which was very frustrating. It finally went 8/6 and I got the news today. I actually have a dietician visit scheduled for tomorrow so we will look at the calendar then and pick a date. She indicated it would probably be in the middle of September.

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Teesaa    30

Teesaa
Posted

I believe I have the same insurance as you (bedwards32). So my good news is I just got approved today!! Just a little over a week shy of 3 months from start to finish. With all the changes in requirements I was a bit surprised. So this was my timeline and I hope it is of some help to you.

Information session May 28th. Consult with surgeon June 12. In preparation for my surgeon visit I put together as much information as I could find on my weight loss journey and put it in a log. Luckily when I changed doctors about 6 years ago my records were put on a disc and I was given the paper copy so I went through it with a fine tooth comb for anything to do with my weight history. I also had a record of every Weight Watchers visit for the past 2 & 1/2 years.) I did all the tests required and was finished with them by 7/23. The other thing that helped me is I have an auto immune disease and for the past 2 years I've been to the specialist at least every three months. His records were included in my submission. My packet was delayed going to the insurance for several weeks because the coordinator was on vacation which was very frustrating. It finally went 8/6 and I got the news today. I actually have a dietician visit scheduled for tomorrow so we will look at the calendar then and pick a date. She indicated it would probably be in the middle of September.

14 days and counting

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butterfly**    39

butterfly**
Posted

I have BCBS of NY and was told I have to do the 6 month weight documentation. In the mean time, I'm getting all my testing done and appointments done. I started this journey in August.

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Mom26    313

Mom26
Posted

I also have BCBS of NY - my last appointment for my 6-month documentation is next week. Had a full physical, got my psych done and met with the nutritionist. Hopefully that's all I need to do!

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Bedwards32    98

Bedwards32
Posted

I have a 6 month weight program to follow also, I've had my psychological evaluation, waiting for them to call to schedule my sleep study, I go to the dietitian September 22, and support group on September 19. So 5 more months of seeing my Dr and a sleep study I should be good to go!

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Mom26    313

Mom26
Posted

Just had my last appointment of the 6-month requirement yesterday with my surgeon. They actually set the surgery date for me then.... Sept 24th. Pending approval from BCBS. I didn't expect it to be scheduled so quickly. I'm in sort of a whirlwind. liquid diet starts tomorrow. Pre-surgical testing early next week. Still waiting for my endoscopy (damn, why didn't I get that done sooner???). Fingers crossed.

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2016NewMe    61

2016NewMe
Posted

Hello does anyone know if BCBStx PPO even allow it at all ????

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Go To Topic Listing Insurance & Financing

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      1. Selina333

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    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

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      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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