Pick an experienced surgeon

Pick an experienced surgeon...by that I don't mean one who has a lot of experience with the sleeve operation, although that is a good thing too, but I am talking about an experienced surgeon who knows how to document and submit to your insurance company.

My insurance company required 6 months of a controlled weight loss program. My surgeon's office told me that Weight Watchers would work. Trouble was, everything I read online said that I had to show at least a 5% weight loss on this program. My nutritionist also said I had to lose 5%. I panicked, but submitted the Weight Watchers booklet anyway. I then drove myself crazy thinking I was going to be denied because I didn't have the 5% weight loss during my Weight Watchers membership. I didn't want to bring it up with my surgeon's assistant, thinking that maybe it wouldn't be noticed. I couldn't stand it anymore and finally asked "Will I be denied because I didn't lose 5%?" My surgeon's office said that that was not a requirement of my insurance. I about died. I had been driving myself nuts over this for nothing.

Another thing my surgeon's office assistant did was insist on a nutritional class. She said even though it wasn't shown in my insurance guidelines, it would help me get approved. She was right. I was approved in1 day.

My surgeon's office assistant then told me that she has never had a patient denied, no matter what insurance company they use because she makes sure everything is done before submitting. She went on to say that once someone is denied it is difficult to get the decision over turned as she has seen others struggle.

Pick your surgeon carefully and ask lots of questions about the submission process.