Anyone had BMI of 38 and gotten approved with Federal BCBS? I am waiting to hear from them. I do have Diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, high cholesterol and osteoarthritis. All these are new this year and decided sleeve could help me be rid of some. Hope to hear from others who have bcbs fed.

If I were you I would call benefits service yourself. I know the insurance coordinators deal with so many different insurances that it could be easier for them to confuse. I have little faith in the one at my drs office. I have emailed her twice no response. Also I knew what the requirements were prior to her allowing me to make my 1st NUT appointment, holding me up a whole month!

That is great you were approved, but horrible of the doctor to not tell you themselves!

Can I ask if you have any co-morbidities? I only have the sleep apnea, and history of being overweight, but my BMI is only 38.

My paperwork was submitted to BCBS Fep on June 22nd. My Doctors office called and told me that BCBS is now requiring 4 nutritional visits. I went to the additional visit on July14th. I still hadn't heard anything form my doctors office on the 24th so I decided to call the insurance company myself. I was told that my surgery was approved on July 20th. The approval was for 184 days, so I have until January 20th 2016 to have the procedure done. I started my journey in April of 2015 and I'm not quite sure why the doctors office hasn't notified me that I;ve been approved so I can get a surgery date. I'm going to call them in the morning.

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You should be fine with BMI of 38 with comorbities

Gastricrestrictiveprocedures,gastricmalabsorptive procedures, and combination restrictive and malabsorptive procedures to treat morbid obesity – a condition in which an individual has a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more, or an individual with a BMI of 35 or more with one or more co- morbidities; eligible members must be age 18 or over

I have basic and still waiting. I am on preop diet so I am calling BCBS everyday in the afternoon to ask.

Just called BCBS Federal and I was APPROVED!!!! Wow that was a long wait but so worth it. The approval was done on July 21st so there must be a lag time from the time the decision is made to the time it is entered into the system. Yesterday this was not there and they had not mailed out an approval letter.

Wow very happy for u!!!! ???????????????????????????????????????????? glad u finally got ur approval... Now mine.. Lol.. How many days from ur paperwork being submitted to now?? Wondering.. The rep told me she would call me back lol.. So i wouldnt have to call. Lol.

That is awesome! Congratulations!!

That's great! I hope we can all get surgery dates around the same time.

I just called yesterday and basically told the girl I would call everyday this week. All of the reps have been very nice and helpful. My paperwork was submitted on July 3 and the approval was nade on July 21st and it was only posted today. Good luck hope you get your approval very soon.

I just called the doctors office to see if I could get a surgery date and they told me that they haven't received approval from blue cross even though I called blue cross blue shield 9 days ago and was told I was approved on July 20th. So frustrating.

Bcbs called me!!! Lol (guess after so many calls to them) this morning and Approval is there!!! So for me it took exactly 15 days. Omg its really gonna happen. Lol. ????????

Some people were getting approve very quickly... but as of lately I'm seeing that it's taking double the time as it was before!

Yep i was thinking same thing.. I was expecting way sooner.. But its ok its here im approved...

I have bcbs federal, they required a psyche evaluation, 3 months of records from doctor showing I tried to lose weight and nutrition evaluation. I have sleep apnea and diabetic and they approved mine in a week. Getting lap band next Thursday:)

Nomoremeds

My doctor's coordinator told me she was going to call after we hung up to get the approval faxed to her. So this must be an option for the doctor's office.

That's what I was thinking the cooridinator would do for me,but she just told me that they could not give me a date without the apprival in office. They advertise that they have these top insurance negotiators but I'm doing all the leg work. Blue cross told me that they would resend the approval to them and mail one to me. I'm going to scan and email mine to them when I get it. I really like Dr. Holden and I want her to do my surgery. If it wasn't for that fact I would see if I could take my approval somewhere else.