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Highmark BCBS approval timeline?



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I just had my FINAL 6-month weigh in, Monday and i'm down 49/50 lbs since i began! I could not be prouder of myself. I'm "slated" to have gastric bypass in mid- to late January and my surgeons office just submitted all my information to insurance yesterday (Tuesday). Anyone have Highmark BCBS of Pennsylvania that could give me a timeline of how long i'll hear if i'm approved? I'm so nervous waiting, i can barely sit still! I still have 2 pre-op appointments, one EGD procedure and an eco of my heart. I'm 90% there!

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Sorry, I don't have Highmark BSBC but I do have BCBS FEP and I know for me it was just a couple of days after I proved I had 6 months of supervised medical weight loss. Hopefully it won't take too long.

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I have highmark PPO and they submitted one day and called me with approval the next. ( in PA as well. Are you in Pittsburgh area?

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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@@sherri~ i'm having my surgery in Pittsburgh, but i'm from the State College area. Mine was submitted Tuesday, but it hasn't show up as a 'claim' on Highmark's website. My surgeons office takes care of sending all paperwork to insurance, so i trust they sent it. I hope so anyway, haha

Have you already had your surgery?

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Yes I did 6 weeks ago. It's been pretty smooth all in all. If you're going through hope bariatrics I can vouch for their professionalism and expertise

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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I'm going through Allegheny Health Network, i'll have my surgery at West Penn.

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@cls5186 I see you're from near state college! I am too. Would love to connect and hear how everything went for you!![emoji846]


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@hannah_621 hey! yeah I'm in State College, are you also in the area? Are you pre-op or post-op?

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I'm pre-op currently! I used to work in state college for Mount Nittany. I live like 35 minutes away in a super small town closer to philipsburg. End up in state college all the time though!


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Small world, I'm from Clearfield originally! I work at Accuweather currently in State College.

But about surgery, haha. My date was Jan. 23rd and I had it done in Pitt. by an awesome surgeon. I'm about 8 weeks pre-op, everything seems to be going ok except it's so hard to poop! Haha and it's uncomfortable at times. I miss some foods though, carbs being a big one!

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That is a small world!!! I'm glad to hear everything is going well! I'm going through Geisinger currently and meet with the surgeon on 4/17. I can definitely see missing carbs! Do they have you taking any stool softeners or anything for that? I bet it's uncomfortable for sure.


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I know a lot of people who have gone to Geisinger for their sleeve or bypass and made out fantastic. But yeah, i just started taking stool softeners and it has helped a bit, but still the feeling of rocks in my stomach stays-which stinks. Any other questions you have, let me know! I'll answer em for ya!

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7 minutes ago, kristin16666 said:

Hi everyone i am from philipsburg area and having my surgery through geisinger i am going to my first appt. Tomorrow and am so excited just cant wait to start my new life!


Hi Kristin! That's who I'm going through! I just was cleared by everyone and have a little more weight to lose before seeing the surgeon! Good luck!! Please keep in touch and any questions I'll try to help with! It's a tough journey but worth it!! ☺️

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I'm going through Allegheny Health Network, i'll have my surgery at West Penn.

Is dr Eid your surgeon? I'm also going through AHN!


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    • 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!
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    • 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.
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