I recently contacted Blossom Bariatrics after my insurance refused to cover WLS by saying it’s excluded after they preapproved it. I need a clearance from my cardiologist to participate in the Fast Track program, and every time they fax the paperwork to my cardiologist they say they are not receiving it. I am very frustrated by this process. Blossom is my last chance. I know the times are difficult right now, but I really want to do this before my 50th birthday next year. Any advice? How long does the Fast Track really take? TIA

11 hours ago, FinallyLosingIt20 said:

I recently contacted Blossom Bariatrics after my insurance refused to cover WLS by saying it’s excluded after they preapproved it. I need a clearance from my cardiologist to participate in the Fast Track program, and every time they fax the paperwork to my cardiologist they say they are not receiving it. I am very frustrated by this process. Blossom is my last chance. I know the times are difficult right now, but I really want to do this before my 50th birthday next year. Any advice? How long does the Fast Track really take? TIA

Some people on a bariatric support group I'm in have said fast track is as quick as 2wks.

30 minutes ago, Sabs211 said:

Some people on a bariatric support group I'm in have said fast track is as quick as 2wks.

That would be awesome! I hope the fax goes through and I can get this in progress.

2 minutes ago, FinallyLosingIt20 said:

That would be awesome! I hope the fax goes through and I can get this in progress.

Best decision you'll ever make.

I'm 5wks post op mini bypass. Couldn't be happier.

I actually used the Fast Track program, and I paid entirely out of pocket.

They had me on a two week pre-op diet first, which I started on December 24th.

I made my first appointment (the check up, talking with the dietitian, and the EKG) for January 2nd, came back in to speak with the surgeon on the 3rd, then had my surgery on the 6th, IV vitamins on the 7th, and I was back home on the 8th (I live in Nevada, so it was just a drive for me).

Honestly, the program is worth it.

They pay for the hotel they put you at, transportation to and from Blossom and Warm Springs surgical center where you'll have your surgery, and it really is "fast track." The people there are lovely, and almost all of them have had the surgery themselves, so they are really sympathetic to any concerns or fears.

It was also nice because I didn't have to stay in a hospital. I was up and walking around 30 minutes after I woke up from surgery, and then pacing around the hotel the rest of the night. It was much less stressful on me because of that.

Edited April 22, 20206 yr by Sammi_Katt

Maybe there's a difference in insurance requirements. The program I went through had a "regular" track of 6-9 months and their "fast" track was 3-4 months. I have BCBS of MS though so it could be due to my insurance.

Blossom actually does take insurance. In order to by pass the insurance requirements I did out of pocket with blossom. I was 6 weeks start to finish but that had to do with when I could get scheduled. Afterwards, they billed my insurance for out of network benefits and my insurance paid out. I actually paid less then if I’d tried to do it locally with insurance. And I didn’t have the 6-9 month wait.

18 hours ago, Nerdette said:

Maybe there's a difference in insurance requirements. The program I went through had a "regular" track of 6-9 months and their "fast" track was 3-4 months. I have BCBS of MS though so it could be due to my insurance.

So it took 3-4 months at Blossom Bariatrics? They have not mentioned anything about months of waiting, but I did just complete the 6 months my insurance required before turning around and saying it was not even a covered service. It feels like it has been one road block after the next.

17 hours ago, FinallyLosingIt20 said:

So it took 3-4 months at Blossom Bariatrics? They have not mentioned anything about months of waiting, but I did just complete the 6 months my insurance required before turning around and saying it was not even a covered service. It feels like it has been one road block after the next.

Blossom can be as fast as two weeks or longer if you can’t schedule right away. It seems like their average is 4-6 weeks though from first contact to surgery.

11 hours ago, ronjsteele1 said:

Blossom can be as fast as two weeks or longer if you can’t schedule right away. It seems like their average is 4-6 weeks though from first contact to surgery.

May I ask what you ended up paying out of pocket? I'm coming from the Chicago area, and I am nervous about the cost. I have insurance that excludes Bariatric Surgery, but they can bill them for tests, etc.

On 4/22/2020 at 3:27 PM, Nerdette said:

Maybe there's a difference in insurance requirements. The program I went through had a "regular" track of 6-9 months and their "fast" track was 3-4 months. I have BCBS of MS though so it could be due to my insurance.

In my experience that is the most common fast track scenario for those with insurance (several of the BCBS policy types allow an early decision - so like 3 months dietician/ weight loss (w all the other reqts done, like psych eval) vs the standard 6 months. I know BCBS of IL Is one of those - I’m now awaiting word of whether I will be approved - fingers crossed!

i know paying out of pocket is faster, but I don’t want to fly some place for this surgery and with two policies (since hubby is retired USMC) it would be insane for me to trade many 1,000s of dollars to avoid waiting a couple of months (especially now when no surgeries are happening here anyway).

Edited April 24, 20206 yr by Bezy

On 4/22/2020 at 1:46 PM, Sammi_Katt said:

I actually used the Fast Track program, and I paid entirely out of pocket.

They had me on a two week pre-op diet first, which I started on December 24th.

I made my first appointment (the check up, talking with the dietitian, and the EKG) for January 2nd, came back in to speak with the surgeon on the 3rd, then had my surgery on the 6th, IV Vitamins on the 7th, and I was back home on the 8th (I live in Nevada, so it was just a drive for me).

Honestly, the program is worth it.

They pay for the hotel they put you at, transportation to and from Blossom and Warm Springs surgical center where you'll have your surgery, and it really is "fast track." The people there are lovely, and almost all of them have had the surgery themselves, so they are really sympathetic to any concerns or fears.

It was also nice because I didn't have to stay in a hospital. I was up and walking around 30 minutes after I woke up from surgery, and then pacing around the hotel the rest of the night. It was much less stressful on me because of that.

That sounds great! I am praying I get to do this.

The person who posted that Fast Track would take 3-4 months wasn’t talking about Blossom. Some hospitals may have a Fast Track program. If it wasn’t for Covid it’s possible I’d be done now. I’m scheduled at Blossom for June 15th. Praying Nevada opens up elective surgeries very soon!

On 4/21/2020 at 10:54 PM, FinallyLosingIt20 said:

I recently contacted Blossom Bariatrics after my insurance refused to cover WLS by saying it’s excluded after they preapproved it. I need a clearance from my cardiologist to participate in the Fast Track program, and every time they fax the paperwork to my cardiologist they say they are not receiving it. I am very frustrated by this process. Blossom is my last chance. I know the times are difficult right now, but I really want to do this before my 50th birthday next year. Any advice? How long does the Fast Track really take? TIA

You might want to see if you can just pick up the paperwork and bring it to your cardiologist's office yourself (or have them email you the paperwork and bring it to your cardiologist). I am a provider in a medical office, and it is not uncommon for us to fax things multiple times, get fax confirmation, and still have the receiving office say they never got it (and vice versa, to be honest).

Edited April 28, 20206 yr by stacer12

Update- blossom aside (nothing against it, but it and similar clinics are not the norm and so just updating for those dealing with the customary fast track version ?

I got approval 4 days ago April 24, although she emailed Monday. My first visit with the surgeon was in mid Feb. I had the 1st nutritionist visit that first day, the second mid March and the 3rd mid April. They submitted the fast track request within 1-2 days and so my approval happened in around a week’s time. I have BCBS of IL and they are one of the insurers that allow for this “fast track.” I had made sure to get a move on with it and so had my psychological assessment, group meeting, and nutritionist’s requirements (e.g., purchasing vitamins) done by the end of March.

Now I just have to wait on the elective surgeries to begin and them to get through the backlog (they stopped doing procedures in ATL about March 17th. At least the approval is done and now it’s just a waiting game. Good luck everyone!

Edited April 29, 20206 yr by Bezy

04/24/2020 02:18 PM, FinallyLosingIt20 said:

May I ask what you ended up paying out of pocket? I'm coming from the Chicago area, and I am nervous about the cost. I have insurance that excludes Bariatric Surgery, but they can bill them for tests, etc.

I’m actually headed to Blossom next Wednesday. Apparently, they can use certain benefits from your policy even if it explicitly excludes Bariatric Surgery. As it was explained to me,with my specific policy, they are able to use an out-of-network general surgery benefit to assist with costs. I wound up only paying $6k out of pocket. Blossom is literally the only way this would’ve happened for me, because I was hard and fast on not paying anymore than $7k for it.

 I think it’s utterly ridiculous that most insurance plans these days won’t cover it, yet they’ll pay for you to get your foot cut off from diabetes complications or other ailments that could probably have been FIXED with bariatric treatment. It’s maddening!