Hi there!

I've tried researching this on my own and I can't seem to find much. My insurance (Anthem BCBS) will only cover in-network providers at one of their approved centers, and since there are none in my state I'll be traveling about 8 hours each way.

My employer doesn't accept doctor's notes, and everything would have to be FMLA approved. Should those doctor's visits be covered since I have to travel for them...?

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I am not sure that I have an answer to your question. FMLA is a separate program from sick leave. Normally doctor's notes are accepted for sick leave (paid leave). I do not think FLMA approves leave. They provide a guideline by which Family & Medical Leave (which is unpaid leave) may be taken. These guidelines state that the leave may be taken for:

* for the birth and care of the newborn child of an employee;

* for placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care;

* to care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition; or

* to take medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition.

https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/benefits-leave/fmla

Generally going through this process I underwent many visits to doctors. These included initial consultation, visit with the psychologist, several visits to meet the insurance requirement for a six month medically supervised weight loss program, pre-op physicals, second round of pre-op physicals, a half day of classes, the surgery, post-op visits. So I think that the time you need for meeting the majority of pre-op requirements would be using sick leave. But the operation and recovery period could be covered by FLMA. In your case it would be important to minimize the number of long trips in the pre-op stage and try to do this locally. In my case my insurance did not want to cover the expense for going to see the doctor for the six month medically supervised weight loss program anyways, so this might be out of your pocket whether you go in state or out of state.

I've taken a lot of FMLA. It just grants you permission to go and to use leave (whether paid or unpaid). It also guarantees that your job will be safe (i.e., you won't lose it because you left for x number of weeks). It IS separate from leave itself. In my case, I used accumulated sick leave for my leave. If I didn't have any, I would have taken it unpaid. But FMLA just guarantees you can take the approved time off and won't lose your job because of it.

I'm not worried about they pay part. I know the actual operation/recovery would be covered, I was just curious as to whether or not anyone had experience with the pre-op appointments themselves being part of what is covered.

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I'm not worried about they pay part. I know the actual operation/recovery would be covered, I was just curious as to whether or not anyone had experience with the pre-op appointments themselves being part of what is covered.

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I'm wondering the same thing. I know I'll have to go do blood work the day before surgery and I live about an hour away from my surgeons (he's in RI and I'm in Boston) so I have to take off the day before surgery too.

Following to see what answers you get

I did talk to my doctor's office today and they said no, it would not be covered. So I had to sadly reschedule my consultation for January.

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I'm not worried about they pay part. I know the actual operation/recovery would be covered, I was just curious as to whether or not anyone had experience with the pre-op appointments themselves being part of what is covered.

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I have BCBS of Michigan and my pre-op appointments are not covered. You'll have to call your insurance provider.