question about surgery requirements at NYU

BrooklynBandster · July 11, 2007

Hi, all - I'm considering getting banded, and live in NYC. It seems like everyone recommends the NYU group. I meet all of their requirements for surgery, except for one: the six months of medically supervised dieting. Don't get me wrong - I've absolutely dieted for at least six months at a time, several times - just not under the direct supervision of a doctor. But do I need to do it again before they'll consider me?

Has anyone dealt with this issue before?

Thanks in advance!

Julybander · July 19, 2007

I believe it depends on your insurance. My insurance didn't require it so the office didn't require it. I filled all the other requirements and now have a date for surgery. Hope this helps.

spunkywoman · July 19, 2007

Dr Fielding and Dr Ren are the greatest. The six month supervised dieting isn't for them. They realize you have been on every diet in the book. Are you self pay or insurance? The six months is for insurance company......yes it's a pain but part of the game insurances play. One third of the people become self pay, one third does the supervised diet and one third drops out. The insurance company banks on the odds.........Now which THIRD will you be? Don't give up....it's worth the trouble....

spunky

BrooklynBandster · July 19, 2007

thanks, you two. spunky - i'm assuming you had surgery with either dr. ren or dr. fielding? i'm glad to hear you like them, and that they don't require the 6 months of supervised dieting. i would really like to get this covered by insurance, but i'm not psyched about the idea of waiting six months for them to tell me that they've decided not to cover me anyway for some reason. you're right, they clearly count on people dropping out. do you mind if i ask if you were self-pay or insurance?

spunkywoman · July 19, 2007

I went the insurance route.......the six months gave me time to come to terms with less eating and all the life style changes. Maybe I'm finally maturing....omg did I really say that.......keep me posted on your decission.

spunky

ps anyone know how to get rid of the botched attempt at a tickler? Help!

lovestoned · July 21, 2007

Hi there! Yes that's definitely an insurance issue. 80% of all insurance companies require the 6 mos. of supervised dieting. The other 20% (which consist of United Health Care & Oxford) require a 5 yr history...which is actually easier because all you have to do is request all your medical records from the past 5 yrs exhibiting all your different weights and you're set. Of course you have to have been overweight for at least the last 5 yrs. Dr. Marina Kurian has recently joined the NYU staff. I met her when I went for a consultation at Lenox Hill. She performed Al Roker's surgery. She's great. I'm getting my surgery done at Mount Sinai in NY. They're also a Bariatric Center for Excellence. I never looked into NYU...maybe I should have but I went with Mount Sinai over Lenox Hill simply because I felt it was a better "fit" for me.

crazyace · August 4, 2007

I am having my surgery with Dr. Ren-on Aug13--I have Oxford freedom--which requires no history or 6 months of dieting---i was approved in 2 weeks with just a physical from my PCP and a letter stating i needed the surgery.---I heard that Oxford freedom is the "Magic pill"--the easiest insurance in NYC--i am on the pre-op diet now that is hell--but as far as NYU goes the team there has made all of this process easy and painless --so far---i go for pre-surgery tests on monday!

ghostbuster · September 2, 2007

I am getting banded by Dr. Ren in September. So far they have been amazing. I didn't have to do the 6 month diet. I have Empire BlueCross/BlueShield and from the time that I had all of my appointments done and Johanna submitted my file to my insurance company to the day it was done was literally 3 days. They are great and I am so excited for this to finally happen.

Dee Martin · September 4, 2007

I actually have Oxford and was banded August 13, 2007 with Dr. Christine Ren at NYU. Oxford did not require supervised diet nor a weight history (but in most cases most of us have been overweight for a long period of time, why surgery is our option). All they need is your BMI to be 40 or higher and your PCP deeming it medically necessary. I was so nervous about insurance but in end Oxford gave no problems and made the process ridiculously easy.

crazyace · September 4, 2007

I actually have Oxford and was banded August 13, 2007 with Dr. Christine Ren at NYU. Oxford did not require supervised diet nor a weight history (but in most cases most of us have been overweight for a long period of time, why surgery is our option). All they need is your BMI to be 40 or higher and your PCP deeming it medically necessary. I was so nervous about insurance but in end Oxford gave no problems and made the process ridiculously easy.

Hi i had oxford too and was banded by Dr. Ren on August 13 and it was super easy for me!---how are you doing?