Hi all, I’m scheduled for surgery sept 21st all appts are done and drs have signed off . I got a call today from the surgeon and she says she got a letter from the insurance (tufts) saying I need to have been alcohol free for the past year. She said in all the years she’s done surgery she’s never heard of this. I honestly don’t drink more than one drink a month and it’s been months since that , so she’s writing a letter to them stating I haven’t drank in months. But, I think this is something made up as a reason to try and deny my surgery since Covid has taken a toll on the insurance companies. Anyone else have this issue? I really hope it’s resolved because I’ve done everything for this surgery, and something like this should of been brought to my attention months ago.

Have you ever been diagnosed with pancreatitis? Had abnormal liver function tests? Had esophageal varices? Gone to rehab and had insurance pay for it? It sounds like the insurance company is deducing alcohol use from something in your records.

When I had pancreatitis due to a gall stone blocking the pancreatic duct, my doctor wanted it listed as "resolved" as soon as I had my gall bladder out, she said for insurance reasons.

No, never had any issues and all my blood tests came back normal. The dr said she doesn’t know why they’re asking for it.

Well, as long as she'll write the letter so you get the surgery, sounds like you're okay. Good luck!

Gosh I hope so, thank you ??

Gosh I hope so, thank you ??

When i had my surgery i was on an 8 day diet before and they told me to stop drinking when i started that. My surgery was July 18th and my last night drinking was July 9th and was HAMMERED. Nothing bad happened. Good luck!☺️

they may want to be assured that you're not going to be prone to transfer addiction - there are a minority of patients who become alcoholic (or whatever other addiction they turn to after having to give up a food addiction). I would think as long as there's nothing that shows up in your blood, and your doctor writes a note, there's no way for them to know whether or not you've had a drink in the last 12 months, though. That does sounds like a pretty extreme requirement. i have a glass or two of wine about three or four times a year - it would be weird if I was denied surgery for that!

Yes that's wild alcohol free for a year but however my procedure did get postponed for the use of nicotine (cigarettes) [emoji2955] had to quit completely