I go for my first consultation tomorrow. I have been a sponge and taking in everything I could read on gastric bypass. Today I called my insurance just to find out what the pre-qualifiers are. I was shocked to find out that there are none and if the surgeon sends in the paperwork and they approve it then I can be qualified for surgery immediately. Everything I have read suggests insurance companies want periods of diet and other prequalifiers....is this possible that an insurance company can be that easy and literally allow the decision to be yours and your surgeons!? Any comments are welcome.

Thanks...and great forum!

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It is entirely possible! My insurance actually required significantly less than my bariatric program did. My insurance only required 6 months of conventional diet attempts (which I had before I started looking into surgery) and a letter of approval from my PCP. It was my bariatric program that required me to have a psych evaluation, several nutrion visits, and two sleep studies.

Your surgeon may require less or more, depending on your program and comorbidities. They may want cardiac or pulmonary clearance if you have any heart or lung issues. They may want your endocrinologist on board if you're diabetic. Or they may want nothing. They gave me a list at my first appt of things I had to do regardless of my insurance. I'm sure you'll likely get the same.

Good luck!

Same. My insurance only needed me to write out previous diet attempts and weight loss. I'm lucky I kept a data base and was on weight watchers. Easy breezy. My surgeon required everything.

I'm so jealous! LOL. No insight or information, but if that's the case for you, AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT IS AWESOME!

I did not have a waiting period. My surgery was 4 weeks from the time of my first consultation with surgeon. I did have endoscopy, consult with NUT, and psych. (one visit each). Mine was ridiculously easy,

Thanks for the responses ...reading some of the horror stories of all the hurdles some people have had to jump through had me feeling apprehensive because I've committed in my mind to do this and did not want to wait months on end to get it done. Nothing else in life is ever easy so maybe this is my golden ticket LOL

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My whole process went so fast! My surgeon said I made a new record speed from consulatation to having the surgery. I was 1st letter approval and met with psych, nutrition and fitness one time as well and then did a liver shrinking diet which was not too hard to follow at all 2 weeks prior to surgery then Voila... had the surgery. All took only 2 months! So happy for ya!

Can I play devil's advocate here a little? I know the hurdles and waiting seems unnecessary but I can assure you that going thru them helps prepare you for your new life. Be sure to do some of those things even if they aren't "required" and you are sure to have more success. Just my 2 cents....

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