I don't think I have ever been happy about being too big BUT when I called my insurance company about the surgery they told me that since I am over 50 BMI I do not have to go through the usual 6 month weight loss phase. I am really excited because my first appointment with my Dr was mid October and I am supposed to be getting my surgery date tomorrow! Fingers crossed for 12/18!

Is that the case with other insurances for an individual with a BMI over 50?

That was what happened in my sisters case.

My BMI was 47, but I asked my insurance if the waive the 6 month requirement if over 50- they did not. Just depends on your insurance.

I hope you get the date you want!!

I think it depends on the Insurance you have. I am on my wife's insurance. She works for St. John Providence. They did not require a 6 month protocol but if you were under a certain BMI, then you needed to have some co-morbidities, Like High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, High Cholesterol, etc. I was a 56 BMI I believe, plus I was Diabetic and had High Blood Pressure. I only had to have my psych eval and a stress test. Even with just that, It still took me almost 5 months from first appointment to surgery.

That was the case for me, I was over 60bmi and as such my insurance did not require me to do the 6months physician weight loss plan. but despite being given the green light, I opted for the 6 physician visits, because I wanted to learn more about my body and the food I consumed and as i result i learned more about me.

It was sort of strange, every one at my surgeons office from the Physician assistant to the NUT asked me why i wanted to do it this way, and my response was something like, surgery is not a silver bullet, if I don't mentally prepare I will fail.. I am glad I took the extra time.. despite the extra weight gain and pressure to get under 400lbs to even have the surgery, it was worth the battle for me.

Mine is over 50 as well. I was worried I wouldn't be approved for surgery because I don't have high BP, diabetes, etc. But I was approved based on my BMI alone. Mine is still at least a 3 month process based on my surgeon's requirements. Hoping for an early-mid February surgery date!

I was at 49% and my insurance approved without the 6 month period. I lost 25 lbs pre-op. 20 due to job loss and 5 from pre-op diet. I am only 5 days post op and I am still retaining fluids from the surgery. My weight is actually up 7 lbs. Waiting for it to start the other way.

Mine is over 50 as well. I was worried I wouldn't be approved for surgery because I don't have high BP, diabetes, etc. But I was approved based on my BMI alone. Mine is still at least a 3 month process based on my surgeon's requirements. Hoping for an early-mid February surgery date!

My story is similar. No 6mth monitoring just 3 mths of visits with my team. I used the time to have the various pre-op testing. I didn't have high BP or diabetes. I had mild arthritis in my left knee.

yea I don't have HBP or Diabetes so I wasn't sure it would happen so quickly. just grateful that I can get it on this calendar year for Insurance

I suspect my BMI of over 50 is how my approval was provided so fast. The wait I have for the sleeve is in order for my lap band removal to heal from internal scaring around my stomach.

I have a bmi of 51 still have to do the 6 month but I'm OK with that I've actually lost down to 278 which is 10% of my body weight and I can already tell the difference. And I'm only on month 4

My BMI was 53 and I had to do 6 months as well for my ins. My surgery is Dec 9 and I lost 63lbs so far and my BMI is finally under 50! My surgeon said she wanted me under 50 because over 50 increases your surgical complication risk

My BMI was 73 and I had a completely easy surgical and recovery process.

My BMI was 73 and I had a completely easy surgical and recovery process.

That's awesome! I hope mine is easy too