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Best federal employee insurance

northmsgirl

By northmsgirl, in Insurance & Financing

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northmsgirl    3

northmsgirl
Posted

For the sleeve? Hopefully with no diet requirements? I may have messed up my Cigna diet (see other post) and open season is soon for January (in case I need to switch)? Thanks!

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Elode    8,093

Elode
Posted

I have BCBS Fep

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Mom26    313

Mom26
Posted

We have BCBS government... They no longer have a 6-month wait. Good luck.

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Miss Mac    6,262

Miss Mac
Posted

Don't you have BC/BS Federal Employee available to you? Now is the time for open enrollment if you want to pick it up. It is the best insurance I have ever had...ever. My requirements were two years of documented medical supervision for my weight, which was easy enough. I just got a print out of my medical records and highlighted my weight, any comments about my weight, and doctor's suggested for follow-up for the recent two year period.

I had to have a BMI of 40 or 35+ with co-morbidities. I had to do a three month nutritionist supervised diet also. Once all of that was done with other medical testing my application packet

was faxed in. BCBS approved it in two days. My sleeve was done 12/23/2013.

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fluffytofit    25

fluffytofit
Posted (edited)

I have BCBS Federal, basic plan through the VA. Best insurance ever. Covers pretty much everything! My file was submitted on 10/29. Called insurance company today, and they are just waiting to get my psych clearance.

Edited by fluffytofit

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fluffytofit    25

fluffytofit
Posted

Oh, yep...BCBS Basic plan covers more. You would think that the BCBS Standard covered more because it is more expensive, but it doesn't.

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northmsgirl    3

northmsgirl
Posted

Oh, yep...BCBS Basic plan covers more. You would think that the BCBS Standard covered more because it is more expensive, but it doesn't.

Thanks!

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NewLife1985    45

NewLife1985
Posted

Hi! I have BCBS Federal also and I am new to all of this. I just found out that my insurance covers WLS! I've had it for 7 years!!! (Someone shoot me) I have not seen a bariatric surgeon yet, I'm just trying to get all my ducks in a row first! With this insurance do you need 1 or 2 comorbidities? I'm going to my General Physician today for a physical. I've always had weight related issues but I have never been seen for them.... HELP!

Thank you so much!

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fluffytofit    25

fluffytofit
Posted

@

Make sure you mention to your doctor that you are planning on having bariatric surgery. You will need a letter of support from them. With our insurance the requirement is BMI over 40 with no comorbidity, or BMI over 35 with at least one. We do not need a referral to specialists, so id go right ahead and schedule an appt at the surgeons office. Make sure you are using a BCBS Center of Excellence, as it is required for maximum insurance benefits. If you aren't sure, google it and you will find a list of them near you.

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NewLife1985    45

NewLife1985
Posted

@@fluffytofit

Does it have to be in a Center of Excellence? The closest one to me is over 200 miles away... :/

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fluffytofit    25

fluffytofit
Posted

I don't think you'll get the full coverage if you don't. Call the customer service number on the back of your card to clarify. It is so much better to go to one. At my surgeons office, everyone is in the same office. The surgeon, dietician, and psychologist. It makes it really nice to have a one stop shop. I drive over an hour to mine.

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tdc    56

tdc
Posted

Thanks Nette, that definately answers my questions. I am so glad to hear that it's not like regular throwing up. I go to GREAT lengths to avoid throwing up. It just kills me. I feel like I'm being turned inside out.:sick I think I can handle just regurgitating something, not that I look forward to it.confused.gif That is interesting about the tight feeling in your chest. That must definately take some getting used to. I really need to start practicing chewing. I am soooooo guilty of swallowing my food whole, and it seems like that will get me into a whole heap of trouble after I'm banded. I also drink profusely when I eat...helps to wash it down quicker so I can get another bite in! LOL.

I am PSYCHED! I can't wait for my surgery.biggrin.gif

I called when I was going through none. No you don't have to go to a center of excellence. By your doctor and hospital must be preferred and make sure that their NPI number they bill under is preferred.

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tdc    56

tdc
Posted

@@fluffytofit

Does it have to be in a Center of Excellence? The closest one to me is over 200 miles away... :/

Sorry see my response

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Go To Topic Listing Insurance & Financing

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    • LeighaTR

      LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
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      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

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      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
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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.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        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

      CaseyP1011

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

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