How long

[Heather143 0]

Hi I'm just wondering from the time you had your first apt to your surgery how long of a process was it??

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[wonderdawn 2]

I am still working on things. I had my first appointment in July of 2015. My insurance company requires a lot of different things that I have to do before surgery. I only have 3 more months of seeing my Dr and 2 more living well classes to do before they can submit for approval

[Heather143 0]

I am still working on things. I had my first appointment in July of 2015. My insurance company requires a lot of different things that I have to do before surgery. I only have 3 more months of seeing my Dr and 2 more living well classes to do before they can submit for approval

Oh wow thank you. This is my second attempt i went through everything in 2012 and the day before my surgery i was sick with a cold and they couldn't go through with it due to my chest cold. Then i ended up going through so much in life general it just kept being put on the back burner., but i just went last week and if i can get all my tests from my previous dr. It can be very lil before. I'm hoping it will be allot faster.

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I am still working on things. I had my first appointment in July of 2015. My insurance company requires a lot of different things that I have to do before surgery. I only have 3 more months of seeing my Dr and 2 more living well classes to do before they can submit for approval

Oh wow thank you. This is my second attempt i went through everything in 2012 and the day before my surgery i was sick with a cold and they couldn't go through with it due to my chest cold. Then i ended up going through so much in life general it just kept being put on the back burner., but i just went last week and if i can get all my tests from my previous dr. It can be very lil before. I'm hoping it will be allot faster.

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[pammieanne 269]

I think so much depends on your insurance requirements. I had my first doc appointment on 2/4. I've completed everything required by my insurance, and the week before last they turned everything in to them... not it's a waiting game, waiting for the insurance company to send the final A-OK.... I'm living in a state of suspense! LOL

[DeletedMember 715]

Yes, it's totally dependent on your insurance and what they require. I would call your insurance company and ask them for requirements. If they have a 6-month mandatory supervised weight loss program, you know you are looking at 7-8 months before you have the procedure. If you are self-paying, or your insurance has very few requirements, it can happen very quickly. Here is how my (very fast) process went.

2/9 - First visit with Bariatric Doc

2/12 - Psychological Evaluation

2/19 - PCP appointment for letter of medical necessity and pre-op clearance

2/17 - Pre-op seminar at the hospital to discuss their WLS program

2/24 - Endoscopy

3/8 - Pre-op appointment with Bariatric Doc

3/21 - Scheduled surgery date

One day shy of 6 weeks start to finish (assuming everything nothing comes up between now and Monday). Probably could have done it one week earlier, but I was out of town for work for a week and had to push out my pre-op with the bariatric doctor a week.

[CHM 1,009]

I think so much depends on your insurance requirements.

This.

Some insurance companies don't have extensive requirements and approve as soon as you meet the basic criteria. Some require a 6 month medically supervised diet first. Mine required a 3 month diet. Some normally require a diet but will waive it to expedite if you're over a certain BMI. Its all variable and entirely dependent on your specific insurance plan.

[AmberMc03 59]

I had my initial consult on 2/15 and my insurance requires 90 days of supervised weight loss, psych evaluation, nutrition class, gall bladder ultrasound, EGD and blood work. I found that everything can be done during the 90 day supervised weight loss. I hate having to wait so long but I know why they do it. This is a huge change for the rest of your life and you really have to prepare yourself for it. If I am approved soon after the end of my 90 days, which will be mid-late May I am hoping to schedule my surgery for the end of June because my kids will be visiting their grandmother out of state so I won't worry about them.

Good luck to you and remember it's all worth the wait!

[poisongirl6485 9]

My surgery is next Tuesday. I had my first consult on my 30th birthday on June 4, 2015.

I started at 59% BMI. My insurance requires 6 months dietitian supervised weight loss attempts. I also had an upper GI, three psychology appointments, one exercise physiologist appointment, pre-op class, EKG, chest x-ray, pre-op labwork, anesthesiologist consult, pre-op meeting with surgeon.

It's a lot of appointments but will be worth it!

[pegrae 88]

Yes, it's totally dependent on your insurance and what they require. I would call your insurance company and ask them for requirements. If they have a 6-month mandatory supervised weight loss program, you know you are looking at 7-8 months before you have the procedure. If you are self-paying, or your insurance has very few requirements, it can happen very quickly. Here is how my (very fast) process went.

2/9 - First visit with Bariatric Doc

2/12 - Psychological Evaluation

2/19 - PCP appointment for letter of medical necessity and pre-op clearance

2/17 - Pre-op seminar at the hospital to discuss their WLS program

2/24 - Endoscopy

3/8 - Pre-op appointment with Bariatric Doc

3/21 - Scheduled surgery date

One day shy of 6 weeks start to finish (assuming everything nothing comes up between now and Monday). Probably could have done it one week earlier, but I was out of town for work for a week and had to push out my pre-op with the bariatric doctor a week.

I am a private pay as well thank you for sharing. I have wondered how long it will take.

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[countryrose 14]

I had my intial consulation with my surgeon on Jan 4, 2016. I had to have 3 PCP visits for weight checks, a pulmonary appointment for a function test; a psych eval; and some labs drawn. We turned into insurance on March 15 and was approved in minutes. (I have BCBS of IA) My surgery is scheduled April 7.

Good luck on your journey.

[kjwrn 129]

I went to the first informational session on 11/01/15 and my surgery is scheduled for 4/4/16

[AJKMMC15 63]

October 2015 seminar, November 20th first weigh in and meeting with baractric clinic... to march 16th 2016 surgery day

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[sunshine1531 30]

My insurance required a 3 month supervised diet. That was plenty of time to get all my other requirements done--psych/medical clearance,etc. But it has actually been a 4 month process for me because of scheduling it around my job. My first consultation appt was 11/12/15 and now my surgery is this Tuesday 3/22/16. Has gone by fast tho!

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[eoconnell24 30]

Hello! That's awesome to hear how quickly you heard back from insurance. I have BCBS as well and was curious about approval times. My bariatric counselor said 2-3 weeks but I keep seeing people with BCBS say they were approved much faster and that makes me very excited! I just met all of my requirements so we should be submitting to insurance any day now!!

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[applejenn 173]

I started with my first appointment 11/24/15 and my surgery is 5/18/16

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