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I researched a head of time. I know the requirements. Double checked with insurance and with surgeon. Finally completed the 6 month weigh ins as a monitored weight loss program with the primary care. Completed numerous tests and had a tentative surgery date scheduled then I got the call from my surgeons office saying they received a denial. Luckily the team is on top of things and called the insurance to ask why. They were told it was not deemed medically necessary. Even though they provided a letter stating it was. So I called my insurance and was told I was denied because I had no proof of excersize. I submitted the forms signed monthly by my dr with notes that included weights and calorie diet etc.... so I told my dr office that all I had was a fitness diary I kept, my dr advised me to do this in se months ago. So I'm wondering if anyone else has fad to go through anything like this and have they had better luck with the second submission? I'll be dropping off my journal at my surgeons office. They said they would fax copies and add another letter expressing how it is medically necessary. Fingers crossed...

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I had nearly the exact same issue. Was denied as not medically Ness. Follow found it was because I did the 6 months medically supervised diet with my Primary care physician and she did not specifically mention exercise in her chart notes.

I wrote a 3 page letter talking about my medical history, family history and how being over weight effected my current health and would effect my future health. I also got a letter from my pcp stating we discussed diet AND exercise at every visit. It took awhile but eventually I was approved.

Keep fighting the denials.



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I researched a head of time. I know the requirements. Double checked with insurance and with surgeon. Finally completed the 6 month weigh ins as a monitored weight loss program with the primary care. Completed numerous tests and had a tentative surgery date scheduled then I got the call from my surgeons office saying they received a denial. Luckily the team is on top of things and called the insurance to ask why. They were told it was not deemed medically necessary. Even though they provided a letter stating it was. So I called my insurance and was told I was denied because I had no proof of excersize. I submitted the forms signed monthly by my dr with notes that included weights and calorie diet etc.... so I told my dr office that all I had was a fitness diary I kept, my dr advised me to do this in se months ago. So I'm wondering if anyone else has fad to go through anything like this and have they had better luck with the second submission? I'll be dropping off my journal at my surgeons office. They said they would fax copies and add another letter expressing how it is medically necessary. Fingers crossed...

Did you finally get approved??



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That's strange, I have Medicaid and didn't have to submit anything about exercise at all. I was denied initially though because they didn't like my primary's note. It was too comprehensive apparently. She made it shorter and was approved the next day. Insurance will do anything they can to find reasons to deny because then they don't have to pay. Don't give up!

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SURPRISE SURPRISE!! I was waiting for a surgery date and today I get a phone call saying I have to do 12 physical therapy visits. I specifically asked if there was anything else I would have to do months ago and the answer was no after finishing everything I was told I had to finish they come up with this. My insurance is Molina and I'm on Medicaid. This makes me want to puke! Are there any other surprises I should be prepared for?


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Physical therapy? That's the first time I've heard of that requirement.

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Even though Medicaid is a Federal program, it is administered by states and they can have different rules.

Good luck.

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Approved threw medicaid first time no problems, I did my own weekly and exercise chart .. that was turned in with my file.. maybe that helped.

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3 hours ago, WitchySar said:

Physical therapy? That's the first time I've heard of that requirement.

Surprise again! Today I got another call & my surgery is scheduled for May 30.

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Got another call today & I was scheduled for surgery May 30.

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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!
      · 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!
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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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