Good Evening all,

My surgery has been scheduled fo this Friday August 3, 2007. I am pleased to say that Aetna approved the LapBand procedure 2 days after submitting my medical history, counseling (nutritional and psychological), consultation, etc. I am both nervous and excited.

Dr. Singh and Averbach (Catonsville, MD) have been wonderful and very helpful. Their billing representative (Carol) was on top of her job. I highly suggest all new candidates and people who have been denied to contact this office and begin or restart the preauthorization process. Carol is very familiar with the requirements for bariatric procedure coverage.

Treen... That's exciting news! I meet with the finance office & doctors next Tuesday... I don't expect TWO DAYS... but hopefully a plan laid out and ready to roll!

Best Wishes!!!! I'm excited for you!

treen, that's amazing! 2 days, wow. congratulations!

i have a bunch of questions for you about your process with aetna, if you don't mind. did you do the three-month or the six-month supervised program? did you see the nutritionist et al monthly or weekly? what did you submit from each of them?

i'm starting my process this thursday with the supervised program, and am hoping to be able to do the three months.

Wow that is so exciting! Congrats. The surgery clinic said I should leave my H&P next Tuesday with a date for my surgery (looking like september). Good luck!!! Keep us posted!

congrats to you on the surgery date! Wow, that was fast! No pacing the floors for you! Good Luck!

CONGRATS....I know you must be so excited....I wish you well.....good luck and let us know how you are doing..

That is great! I do have a question for you though. I have Aetna Ins. What I am wondering is did you have to do all of the counseling and all the Dr appts before you found out? I went for my consultation and my Dr was sending out a letter to my insurance first to find out if it would be covered.

That is great! I do have a question for you though. I have Aetna Ins. What I am wondering is did you have to do all of the counseling and all the Dr appts before you found out? I went for my consultation and my Dr was sending out a letter to my insurance first to find out if it would be covered.

Good evening,

Unfortunately yes, Even though I thought the nutrional and psych counseling was a big waste of time and money but I had to play the game. The longest part for me was getting the paper work from my PCP. His office staff is not the smartest. They kept faxing in various months of my dietary plan opposed to sending in 2 three consecutive months or 6 months of documentation. Finally, the office manager took care of everything. All she placed on all six months of diet documentation was:

The month (make sure they are consecutive with Aetna)

The dosage of Phentermine

my weight each month

and the doctor stated that he provided nutrition information.

Medical history that proved that I have been overweight for the past 5 years and the Bariatric surgeon requested bloodwork and EKG.

Thats all

I started the process on May 18th 2007 with my consultation

May 21st (nutrition counseling)

June 3rd (psych counseling)

June 28th (office visit: EKG, bloodwork, etc)

then at the end of July my doctors office faxed over all documents and the insurance company approved me.

I hope this helps...if not.....

Please feel free to ask me any question....as I will be happy to respond.

My doctor submitted 6 consecutive months. Aetna will not budge without 2-3 months of documentation or 6 months (both consecutively). I hope this information helps. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

Thanks everyone for all of your well wishes! I wish everyone the best of luck as well!

I sent in my paperwork from tops and my paperwork from curves, I tried from weight watchers but they get rid of their paper work on you after 6 weeks of not going. So if anyone is going to weight watchers make sure when you quit to get your paper work it could help you. I just hope that sending in that paper work will do something. Who knows I guess I will find out soon enough.