Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

Is anyone insurance is through Aetna? If, so were the approval process difficult to get approved, for gastric sleeve surgery??? I have only one more appointment with the nutritionist and I am very nervous....

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Girl, I had the WORST time with atena insurance. Not to worry you but this was my experience. About three years ago I tried and was denied, I then appealed and was denied again.....fast forward to last September 2015 I started the process AGAIN...10 months later and I was approved! Do NOT gain any weight during your weigh ins ( I weighed in on weeks where I was on my period and they gave me a hard time ) I had to jump through so many hoops with atena, make sure you have everything and more that they want, if you can be tested positive for sleep apnea that helps a lot. I just had surgery Monday June 27th and they took a month to get back to me and they have to have a medical review board review my case cause I gainen5 lbs, that almost got me denied. I am 4 days post op now and 5 lbs down. Just do what I did and keep fighting! It's emotionally/ mentally exhausting but if you want it bad enough you'll fight for it. Make sure your bariatric office who is submitting your paperwork has everything, if I wasn't all over them they would have submitted the wrong things etc. don't get discouraged! Keep your head up and proactive !!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for, the reply... For the next four days leading up to my last nutritionists appointment, I will continue to walk as much as I could so that my weight will remains the same... I was informed that I need to lose a told of 20 lb; I hope they are expecting my to lose that amount of weight before surgery!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had no problems....only had a 90 process, no weight loss requirement no net gain. They have 15 business days to make a decision once submitted. My paperwork was submitted on June 2, approved June 14th. Sleeved on June 30th... I did call every 2 business days to check in on the status

Sent from my SM-G920T using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@@NewLA

Thank you for clarifying. I have AETNA and have now waited 2 weeks since my paperwork was finished at the doctor's office. It is so hard to wait and doing everything I can to stay patient. They told me it would be finished by the 13th which is 4 more business days. It's time for the AETNA chant. AETNA! AETNA! AETNA!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@ NewLA

Thanks, for the information; I have more clarity now... I will contact the administration office; every "two days" to stay make sure they are staying on top things... That was also great advice.

Thanks!

Lol to @@Shrinkinqtpi

Let go Aetna lets go!!!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Edited by D'Sleeved

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@D'Sleeved

My plan through Dr. Primomo

Preop is 2 weeks 100 grams of Protein per day with Clear Liquids the day before

No food

64-128 ozs of liquid

3 multi- Vitamins per day

Post op

1 week liquids

1-2 weeks puréed foods

1-3 weeks semi-solid

3 multi's/day

Vitamin D 2x/week

Calcium citrate 2x/day

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have Aetna and had no problems getting approved on round one.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My best friend and I are going through this journey together. We have the exact same insurance (except her out of pocket max is lower than mine due to it being based off annual salary and my insurance is under my husbands salary and hers is under her salary).

When the surgeons office submitted her paperwork 3 days after her last weight in appointment it took a full 14 business days.

My paperwork didn't get submitted correctly by the surgeons office and I called Aetna and then the surgeons insurance coordinator and threw a fit over their mistake and she submitted on a Thursday and I followed up with Aetna on Monday to ensure everything was submitted correctly and they had approved it on Friday! But I was already 2 weeks behind my BFF of approval.

So now she is starting week 3 post op and back to work the last 2 weeks and I am only 5 days post op.

But both the surgeons insurance coordinator and Aetna will tell you that it does take up to 14 business days for approval. Plus this surgery is considered elective so priority is is lower in the pre-cert department.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@@AmberMc03

I no it sucks! that you two ladies; when through all the appointments and etc together.

And due to the fact of miss documentation your surgery date has been delayed..

At least they was able to address your issues ASAP.

With that said and done; I will also be staying on top of things with my coordinator; I will be placing another call on Tuesday to see where I am at with the approval process.

14 days isn't that long to find out if, I am approved or not, so I will no where to started next; on my journey...

I am keeping my finger crossed to have everything taking care of before my children goes back to school.

I enjoyed reading your story... Thanks! for all the information.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×