Hello!

I have attended my seminar and scheduled my initial consultation at Bailey Bariatric in Owasso, OK and the insurance verification called to say that the insurance will pay but mentioned something about 4 months, but said something about that being the average time it takes to get through the pre-op appointments. Does anyone know if this is a required 4 month waiting period through HealthChoice or if this was just an estimate. I also have a secondary insurance that will cover the expenses but I won't have it for much longer so I was kind of hoping to get the surgery done before the end of the year, but I am guessing that won't happen.

any insight would help, thanks!

Every insurance company and surgeons requirements differ so much.

My insurance requires a 4 month process (Cigna), but my Bariatric office requires a minimum of 6 month process.

I have Medicare and they also require a 4 month period too. The drs office says it takes that long to get all the appointments done before surgery.

Most insurance plans require your participation in a "physician supervised weight loss program". These tend to range from 3 to 6 months. For example, my insurance only required 3 months, but like @kcuster83, my bariatric team required 6 months.

The main reason for this is that surgery alone isn't all that effective long term. To truly lose weight and maintain, we have to learn to change our relationship with food.

In addition to that requirement, you'll likely also have to complete a psych eval and may, depending on your program, have to have any number of other tests done like blood & urine tests, CT scans, swallow studies, an endoscopy, etc. Depending on if you have other health issues, you may also have to get other specialist doctors to give their okay, which means even more appointments.

It took me almost 3 years to make it through everything, though obviously I'm the exception. You can read all about my journey here: https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/441618-spartanmakers-long-and-winding-road/

Best of luck.

rThanks everyone, I know that I will be doing cardiology, pulmonology, nutrition, and psych at the bariatric center prior to surgery consult. I also have been doing medically supervised diet not through the bariatric center but through another dietician group for at least 6 months now with minimal results. I wonder if that time will help me shave some time off the wait time, either way I am just happy to be getting started.

2 hours ago, MountainClover said:

I have Medicare and they also require a 4 month period too. The drs office says it takes that long to get all the appointments done before surgery.

Are you sure? I am using Medicare and I am not on a 4 month schedule. More like a 3 month.

4 hours ago, Old Salt said:

Are you sure? I am using Medicare and I am not on a 4 month schedule. More like a 3 month.

I have Medicare. My doctor's office said 4 months and that if it was less than that, Medicare may question it more.

7 hours ago, Old Salt said:

Are you sure? I am using Medicare and I am not on a 4 month schedule. More like a 3 month.

Well, maybe its my clinic that requires 4 months. I think it will take that long to get all these appointments done anyway. 4 months is ok with me anyway. It will get me past the holidays.