So I'm just starting the process and according to insurance I need to do a 3 month "medically supervised weight loss program" for 3 months prior to approval (Blue Cross Federal). What does that consist of? I haven't met with the Drs. Office yet but as I am a teacher I'm hoping somehow I can get it done over the summer. It would be nice if I could get that medically supervised weight loss program started now.

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You will most likely see a nutritionist monthly. My nutritionist is part of my Bariatric Team.

So there is no way for me to start that on my own before I meet with the Dr.?

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No - it has to be medically supervised. You could start with your PCP but be sure you get specifics from insurance as to what is required.

Does your Surgeon have a nutritionist? I would assume you could see them before the Dr.

I haven't even gotten that far. I put calls out to three different places to get insurance verification and have a consult with one of those places May 3

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We were doing fertility treatments for the last year and after this last failed round I finally am biting the bullet to do the surgery

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Ask BCBS if weight watchers would count - you could start that right away and then be a little ahead of the game.

You don't need to start weight watchers, I used BCBS Federal and they approved me based on a doctor's visit I had done months prior, 1 visit with my bariatric doctor in November 2015 (they weighed me), then 1 visit with my bariatric doctor

and his nutritionist as a 3rd month visit in December. My surgery ended up being December 16th. I completed all steps in 3 weeks and had surgery the 4th week after my very first appointment. They counted failed attempts such as 21 day fix and 2 months on Shaune T Insanity.

How were you able to document those? I'd have to call my fertility specialist and see if they actually recorded my weights or just said they did. I did have surgery in January so I know it was recorded then.

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They didn't ask me for any documents at all, they called the doctors office where I had been tested for a thyroid in which I was weighed so they was able to count it, the rest of the appointments was done at the bariatric office. They required me to have blood work, 2 nutrition appts, 1 psych evaluation, and a sleep study (I set all of these up before they had a chance to call me first lol). They all ask the same questions just to see if you really have attempted weightloss on your own. Everything was written down as notes, they will also ask what are your plans as far as exercising and if you have support in helping you reach your goal.

If your fertility specialist did record your weight it should definitely count.

What state are you in? I wonder if it's different depending on what state handles it.

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Ok and I more question- did you call insurance or let the bariatric surgeons office handle it?

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With my program it was a seminar, drs appt, six nutrition visits, pulmonologist appt, cardiologist appt, sleep study, and psychologist. THEN they submitted for pre cert. Part was due to insurance reasoning a lot of it was due to my drs requirements. It depends on your doc and insurance

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I let the bariatric surgeons office handle it all because BCBS couldn't answer any of my questions over the phone, they would direct me back to their website.

Ok and I more question- did you call insurance or let the bariatric surgeons office handle it?

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My surgeon asked me to call before I saw him to find out if it was a covered benefit. It isn't

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Sorry I didn't see your other comment, I had mine done in Alexandria, LA