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Proof of weight loss attempts

What did you send in for approval? I have Harvard pilgrim and it says I need to show a history of repeated weight loss attempts...

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Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

@@nh-vsgirl My surgeon's office went over my history - but this usually means that they require a period of time where you do supervised weight loss. Mine was with my surgeon (the nutritionist actually) and some are with their PCP.

  • Author

That's what has me nervous because while I've been trying the whole diet and exercise thing for about 20 years the only 2 times I talked to my old PCP about it specifically was to check my thyroid (fine) and the last time about a year ago, I went to her seriously down in the dumps and her advice was try to eat less and move more for 3 months. That was the entire load of advice . I did meet with a nutritionist once at her request, who literally told me I sounded like I really knew what I was talking about. Yet. Here I am, still fat lol.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

Have you scheduled an appointment with a surgeon yet? Usually they'll investigate more into what exactly your insurance needs for approval. Your PCP sounds fairly useless so hopefully they don't require anything of her.

  • Author

Have you scheduled an appointment with a surgeon yet? Usually they'll investigate more into what exactly your insurance needs for approval. Your PCP sounds fairly useless so hopefully they don't require anything of her.

She was AWESOME during my last pregnancy and all that but once I was out of the baby needs, it went down hill. I have a whole new dr now (I brought up WLS to her about 6 MO or so ago and she kinda brushed it off , like eh you don't want to do that) I swear I'm 100 plus over weight, aren't drs supposed to be up my ass about that! I don't have an appointment with a surgeon yet but I am going too the info session this wednesday, hopefully I'll know more after!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

Have you scheduled an appointment with a surgeon yet? Usually they'll investigate more into what exactly your insurance needs for approval. Your PCP sounds fairly useless so hopefully they don't require anything of her.

She was AWESOME during my last pregnancy and all that but once I was out of the baby needs, it went down hill. I have a whole new dr now (I brought up WLS to her about 6 MO or so ago and she kinda brushed it off , like eh you don't want to do that) I swear I'm 100 plus over weight, aren't drs supposed to be up my ass about that! I don't have an appointment with a surgeon yet but I am going too the info session this wednesday, hopefully I'll know more after!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

First of all, I AM 100 pounds overweight. I have had the same PCP for 11 years. My weight has been a little higher every time I go to see her and a couple of years ago she put me on mild blood pressure meds. She has told me to try Weight Watchers and/or try to cut carbs. That's about it. She doesn't get overly upset about my weight, recommend a nutritionist, or anything of the sort. I don't even bring up WLS with her, I KNOW she would not be on board with me having it.

I checked to see what my insurance covers and went to see one of the surgeons they recommend in early August. The paperwork I filled out before the visit asked me to list all the things I had tried in the past to lose weight. It was actually a check list, so I checked Weight Watchers multiple times, Jenny Craig twice, MediFast, etc. They did not need specific dates or any proof. They did ask about the most I had ever lost with any program and if I was able to keep it off.

Other than that all I needed for my insurance was a psych eval. I did that and it was all sent to my insurance for approval.

My insurance does not require a supervised diet plan or multiple nutritionist visits. Most do.

As far as the history of your weight loss attempts I don't think I have heard of any insurance requiring proof. Some DO require clearance for surgery from your PCP, but I have been told there are ways around that if your doctor is not on board with WLS. Mine is not, I am not going to tell her, my surgeon said that was fine.

  • Author

Have you scheduled an appointment with a surgeon yet? Usually they'll investigate more into what exactly your insurance needs for approval. Your PCP sounds fairly useless so hopefully they don't require anything of her.

She was AWESOME during my last pregnancy and all that but once I was out of the baby needs, it went down hill. I have a whole new dr now (I brought up WLS to her about 6 MO or so ago and she kinda brushed it off , like eh you don't want to do that) I swear I'm 100 plus over weight, aren't drs supposed to be up my ass about that! I don't have an appointment with a surgeon yet but I am going too the info session this wednesday, hopefully I'll know more after!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

First of all, I AM 100 pounds overweight. I have had the same PCP for 11 years. My weight has been a little higher every time I go to see her and a couple of years ago she put me on mild blood pressure meds. She has told me to try Weight Watchers and/or try to cut carbs. That's about it. She doesn't get overly upset about my weight, recommend a nutritionist, or anything of the sort. I don't even bring up WLS with her, I KNOW she would not be on board with me having it.

I checked to see what my insurance covers and went to see one of the surgeons they recommend in early August. The paperwork I filled out before the visit asked me to list all the things I had tried in the past to lose weight. It was actually a check list, so I checked Weight Watchers multiple times, Jenny Craig twice, MediFast, etc. They did not need specific dates or any proof. They did ask about the most I had ever lost with any program and if I was able to keep it off.

Other than that all I needed for my insurance was a psych eval. I did that and it was all sent to my insurance for approval.

My insurance does not require a supervised diet plan or multiple nutritionist visits. Most do.

As far as the history of your weight loss attempts I don't think I have heard of any insurance requiring proof. Some DO require clearance for surgery from your PCP, but I have been told there are ways around that if your doctor is not on board with WLS. Mine is not, I am not going to tell her, my surgeon said that was fine.

This was all music to my ears, thank you! I think I keep psyching myself out because I just know something won't go right lol, but I'm hopeful!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

For my revision they didn't ask since I already had the band for many years but for my band I remember having to just list all my diets like Weightwatchers, Jenny Craig, diet pills, hypnosis... etc. Anything I could remember off the top of my head that I tried in order to lose weight.

  • Author

For my revision they didn't ask since I already had the band for many years but for my band I remember having to just list all my diets like Weightwatchers, Jenny Craig, diet pills, hypnosis... etc. Anything I could remember off the top of my head that I tried in order to lose weight.

It's too bad they don't have a "I've literally tried everything" column !

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

I have Harvard Pilgrim. I was sleeved on 8/24. My PCP asked me for a list of attempts at weight loss and she included that in the letter she wrote, which my program required. That was all I had to do. BTW - HPHC is great. I was approved in less than a week once my surgeon submitted everything. I started the process on May 11 and was in the hospital on 8/24 only because the surgeon and I had vacation conflicts in the two prior weeks.

For my revision they didn't ask since I already had the band for many years but for my band I remember having to just list all my diets like Weightwatchers, Jenny Craig, diet pills, hypnosis... etc. Anything I could remember off the top of my head that I tried in order to lose weight.

It's too bad they don't have a "I've literally tried everything" column !

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

haha omgosh, exactly!

  • 9 months later...

This thread is music to my ears! I have HPHC and the one piece that has made me nervous has been the history of weight loss attempts. I have high blood pressure, PCOS, type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea. I am a mess! I have been on weight watchers numerous times as well as on and off low carb. I will be finished up with my pre reqs mid August and hope to have surgery shortly after!

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