Hey all!!

I've just completed all the fun prerequisites and doctor's meetings and what not. I have blue cross blue shield Illinois and was wondering how long they took to approve? I'm super anxious to get a date and get started with the pre-OP diet.

Hey all!!
I've just completed all the fun prerequisites and doctor's meetings and what not. I have blue cross blue shield Illinois and was wondering how long they took to approve? I'm super anxious to get a date and get started with the pre-OP diet.

Mine is from Tennessee and my Dr.. submitted in t hursday and I got the call on Monday saying I was approved... hope that helps

I also have BCBSIL and will be finished with last requirement on Monday April 29. My insurance coordinator says that it can take up to 2 weeks for approval. I'm a teacher, so I'm hoping for a July date. Good luck to us both!

That's what I'm hearing too. I'm hoping for first week of June [emoji39]. Such a long road, finally a light at the end of the tunnel.

That's what I'm hearing too. I'm hoping for first week of June [emoji39]. Such a long road, finally a light at the end of the tunnel.

Definitely a long road, but it gave me a chance to make a lot of necessary changes. I also had a chance to read info on this site, listen to WLS podcasts, watch many episodes of 600 lb Life, so Ive seem the good and bad sides to surgery. It's a lot to think about. But I feel ready.

Which surgery are you having? I originally was hoping to get sleeved, but my bariatric rn is a bypass patient herself, and she convinced me to get rny too.

I decided to go with the sleeve. One because I just kinda didnt like the idea of having my insides rearranged (but removing them is ok [emoji848]). And 2, I have a friend that had bypass and she kind of wishes she had the sleeve.

9 hours ago, cubyblue6 said:

I decided to go with the sleeve. One because I just kinda didnt like the idea of having my insides rearranged (but removing them is ok ). And 2, I have a friend that had bypass and she kind of wishes she had the sleeve.

Never heard that one^ but it's an individual choice

On 4/27/2019 at 5:30 AM, cubyblue6 said:

I decided to go with the sleeve. One because I just kinda didnt like the idea of having my insides rearranged (but removing them is ok ). And 2, I have a friend that had bypass and she kind of wishes she had the sleeve.

I totally agree with this! I also have a friend who had the bypass and wishes she could've had the sleeve, she had a lot of problems after her bypass where her esophagus had to be dilated twice due to it closing off. She had a bunch of stomach ulcers and acid reflux which is why she couldn't do the sleeve.

In case anyone ever has this question in the future... it took about a week!! I'm approved!! I haven't gotten the call but my blue cross blue shield app updated to show my pre-approval is well... APPROVED!!! So f-ing excited I can hardly contain myself. And of course its Friday and I'll probably have to wait till Monday to hear from the scheduler for my date.

In case anyone ever has this question in the future... it took about a week!! I'm approved!! I haven't gotten the call but my blue cross blue shield app updated to show my pre-approval is well... APPROVED!!! So f-ing excited I can hardly contain myself. And of course its Friday and I'll probably have to wait till Monday to hear from the scheduler for my date.

I also have BCBSIL and will be submitting in early June. I hope I get an approval as fast as you did! My surgeon has tentatively scheduled me for surgery either June 26 or July 2.

I have Medicare and tricare for life (my husband is retired Army)!! So I didn't have a long wait for approval it took longer to get a surgery date.

Definitely a long road, but it gave me a chance to make a lot of necessary changes. I also had a chance to read info on this site, listen to WLS podcasts, watch many episodes of 600 lb Life, so Ive seem the good and bad sides to surgery. It's a lot to think about. But I feel ready.

Which surgery are you having? I originally was hoping to get sleeved, but my bariatric rn is a bypass patient herself, and she convinced me to get rny too.

I had the sleeve 2 1/2 years ago and because I have such severe reflux disease I am now jumping through the hoops and waiting to get approval from my insurance companies to get the revision surgery for the RNY. It happens quite often apparently and I had no clue or i would of just had RNY the first time.
My surgeon thought sleeve surgery was best at the time but my gastrointestinal doctor said it was the worst surgery for me because now the acids and foods have no place to go so it keeps going back up my throat constantly.
Fingers crossed it will be approved soon.
Good luck with your journey e everyone..
Allie in SC

I completed my last class in February, met with the surgeon March 19th and just got approval from bcbsil the other day. It took numerous calls, my rep had a hard time getting my report over to them. For some reason there were system errors.... But it looks like my surgery will be at the end of this month, mind you i started this process last May! Where I am a year later.

Out of curiosity, were you required to have 3 mos or 6 mos of visits? I keep hearing both when it comes to BCBSIL.

6 months of visits plus 3 classes which totaled in 9 months, class 4 is 2 weeks before surgery. My surgery is at the end of this month so it'll be one year total.

Usually the class meets once a month... you weight in and then go about the class.. you come back a month later and weigh in again... it's about 5 classes for sure because the last month you meet up with your Dr. And discuss how the classes went and to see any of your weight progress... they are only an insight to the whole journey after the classes do your homework.. get your stuff in order create a routine and stick with it because aftervtje surgery it's a lifestyle adterwards..