After two weeks, I received my approval today

How long did you have to do the pre-surgery supervised weight loss before approval? UCLA says 3 months so I'm currently scheduled for July 31 but I don't think I get insurance approval until my final pre-op at the end of the month. Love our insurance ?

My program was 3 months. I finished mid May and it took exactly two weeks to get my approval. My coordinator will call me on Tuesday to schedule. The insurance has July 24 as the date but I think it might be before that.

Congrats! I have BCBS FEP, too, and my approval came in a week, I was so relieved!

On 6/3/2017 at 3:12 AM, KateBruin said:

How long did you have to do the pre-surgery supervised weight loss before approval? UCLA says 3 months so I'm currently scheduled for July 31 but I don't think I get insurance approval until my final pre-op at the end of the month. Love our insurance ?

Mine was 3 months and it was submitted for approval the day I had my last appointment with the nutritionist. It took a full week to come back with a yes. I called every day after 3 business days. My surgeon's office never called to say it was approved, they said if it was denied I would hear from them.

Congratulations! It didn't take long to get my approval from BCBS FEP either.

Hi guys! I'm considering this, and am just learning everything. What is the pre-surgery program? I too have the same insurance as you guys.

Bcbs Federal requires a 2 year history of a bmi above 35 (can't drop below 35 during that time ).

Also a 3 month medically supervised diet (can't drop below 35 Bmi)

Evidence previous attempts have not been successful

Psych evaluation and no smoking.

If you Google fepblue SBP you can get the benefit plan, and then search for obesity.

They're also great about responding to messages when you log into your account.

The surgeon may have other requirements, such as a EGD.

Good luck!

Sent from my XT1254 using BariatricPal mobile app

Bcbs Federal requires a 2 year history of a bmi above 35 (can't drop below 35 during that time ).

Also a 3 month medically supervised diet (can't drop below 35 Bmi)

Evidence previous attempts have not been successful

Psych evaluation and no smoking.

If you Google fepblue SBP you can get the benefit plan, and then search for obesity.

They're also great about responding to messages when you log into your account.

The surgeon may have other requirements, such as a EGD.

Good luck!

Sent from my XT1254 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi. Do you have to have comorbidities if your BMI is below 40 with FEP BCBS. I meet with my surgeon for consult on the 21st. In the last 2 years I have been between 38 and 41 BMI but no comorbidities. Currently still at 41 do you think I will qualify?

Sent from my LGLS992 using BariatricPal mobile app

On 6/10/2017 at 5:58 PM, readyforachange66502 said:

Hi. Do you have to have comorbidities if your BMI is below 40 with FEP BCBS. I meet with my surgeon for consult on the 21st. In the last 2 years I have been between 38 and 41 BMI but no comorbidities. Currently still at 41 do you think I will qualify?

Sent from my LGLS992 using BariatricPal mobile app

No comorbidities here and I was on your same situation. My surgery is scheduled for July 3

Hi. Do you have to have comorbidities if your BMI is below 40 with FEP BCBS. I meet with my surgeon for consult on the 21st. In the last 2 years I have been between 38 and 41 BMI but no comorbidities. Currently still at 41 do you think I will qualify?

Sent from my LGLS992 using BariatricPal mobile app

Under 40 bmi requires comorbidities. If you have only been over for a year, I would send them a secure message asking. They're great about answering quickly.

If you have one year under 40 with no comorbidities, plus one year over 40, I would worry that doesn't meet the requirements.

Mine was 35, but had dropped below during that 2 year period, so they told me I wasn't covered.


Sent from my XT1254 using BariatricPal mobile app

My program was 6 months.I started in December 2016. Filed for my approval June 26 and received the approval June 28th. My surgeon had a cancellation, so they scheduled me for July 13th. Its happening so fast my head is spinning. BCBS surprised me. Now the nerves are settling in. But I must say what a relief. It feels like the first day for the rest of my life. Witch now will be longer.

Sent from my LG-H910 using BariatricPal mobile app

I'll just add that I'm awaiting or possibly just got (not sure as I'm on vacation) approval and they needed 3 years of weight so I had to go back in my records. My BMI was 34.7 3 years ago but I don't think I'm really concerned as I'm 38 now and was like 44 when I started the process 3 months ago. We'll see as I'm supposedly still on schedule for July 31.

Please keep us posted! The reason I'm doing the self pay route is because one of my 3 years bmi is under 35. Both the insurance company and surgeon both said I'd be denied. I didn't even want to risk it, because my surgeons self pay rate was $18,000. I just chose another surgeon with a better self pay rate.

I hope you're approved!

I'm waiting on my final approval. Scheduled for the 31st and last week the scheduler called and needed me to submit a weight for 2015 because they just needed 3 years. BMI was like 34 then but was 41 on my first Surgeon visit. Can't decide if I should bug them as soon as it's business hours or wait a couple days. I don't want to get all my post op supplies if they have to push it back.

Kate,

let us know what they say!