How long after the initial consultation did you get approved for surgery?

[taylorxoxo88 0]

Hello! Just wondering how long after the consultation we’re you approved for surgery? My consultation is august 31st thank you!! :)

[SleeveToBypass2023 1,816]

That really depends on your insurance. I have BCBS and for my initial surgery, I was approved a month after my initial consultation. For my revision, it took less time. Medicaid takes MONTHS. Other insurances have other timeframes. It really just depend on what you have.

[RnYBabe 35]

I have NY Medicaid through metroplus, my consultation was on the 14th of July. My surgery is scheduled for Sept 27th. Could have had it early-mid September but needed the time for work to process loa + std and fmla. Your mileage may vary, but often insurance is what determines how soon you can have the surgery and what pre-op appointments they want you to attend beforehand.

[CarmenG 149]

My initial consultation was in March (don't remember the day), I got the revision surgery June 19th. BCBS will only pay for "one weight loss surgery per lifetime." I was told by some doctor's offices that since it was a revision, my insurance wouldn't cover. I called my insurance and spoke to a fantastic lady who really helped me out. I made the point that in 2009, when I got sleeved, BCBS for my school district wasn't covering WLS yet. It was private pay for me, and I had it done in Mexico (no hoops to jump through). So, technically, BCBS had never covered a WLS surgery me. She agreed. It was approved.

Edit: I did have to follow a diet plan to lose weight before the surgery, I had to have an endoscopy, a barium swallow (to check for acid reflux), blood work, see a cardiologist, have a psyche eval (on the phone), and talk to a nut (on the phone). It was a little easier than virgin surgeries because it wasn't my first rodeo.

Edited August 9, 2023 by CarmenG

[WanderingLass 37]

My insurance required 6 months of hoop jumping. Once they were all jumped, it was a few days from preauth request to pre-approval.

[New To This23 102]

It depends on your insurance. For me, I did not even get to see the surgeon until after I did everything my insurance wanted (6 months with a total of 12 dietician visits, exercising at least 30 min a day, sleep study, psychosocial visit, a total of 10 doctor-supervised weight checks and weight loss of at least 5%).

After that, I met the surgeon ( at this point my insurance had approved me for surgery). The surgeon is part of a bariatric team and my guidance now comes from them. I had to get a set of labs, a gallbladder ultrasound, and an EKG. I passed all of those and now I am simply waiting to be scheduled. That was all finished by July 11th, 2023.

[New To This23 102]

It depends on your insurance. For me, I did not even get to see the surgeon until after I did everything my insurance wanted (6 months with a total of 12 dietician visits, exercising at least 30 min a day, sleep study, psychosocial visit, a total of 10 doctor-supervised weight checks and weight loss of at least 5%).

After that, I met the surgeon ( at this point my insurance had approved me for surgery). The surgeon is part of a bariatric team and my guidance now comes from them. I had to get a set of labs, a gallbladder ultrasound, and an EKG. I passed all of those and now I am simply waiting to be scheduled. That was all finished by July 11th, 2023.

[olivia95 5]

I had my consult sometime in the middle of March 2023, I had to do 2 dietician appointments that couldnt be in the same month so one in April and the other in May, had to wait 2 months for a spot to open for my psychiatrist appointment, that was in June 2023. I had scheduled my EGD appointment in the beginning of April but couldn't get in until July since they were booked up, I will tell you to schedule the EGD as quickly as you can since it can take a while to get in. Waited for results from EGD for a week and waited another week after that for my psychiatrist to submit paperwork. Two weeks later I got the email/message in the MyChart saying I got approved for surgery and I'm currently waiting for my surgeon's office to call to schedule the surgery with my surgeon which should be today. So my start was March 15th 2023-Aug 14th 2023 for my date of approval. I also had to do bloodwork but that could be done whenever I wanted at Ohio health and I had to get an abdominal ultrasound but that also didn't take much time, maybe a week but I wouldn't take my time scheduling that if I were you cuz it can take some time if where you're going is busy. For reference I have Cigna Insurance.

Edited August 15, 2023 by olivia95
added info

[Shanna NYC 128]

Yes as everyone has said it depends on your insurance and how quickly you get the checklist completed. I have Cigna which has no requirements by way of having to lose X amount beforehand or having to meet with a nutritionist X times or anything. The only thing for them to cover is to have a BMI of 35 and up along with a co-morbidity or over 40 no co-morbidities required.

For my checklist that I received at consult, I had to do bloodwork (which i did same day as consult), meet with dietician -which I did via Zoom, do psych eval - which i also did via Zoom and get a letter of recommendation from my PCP. I was able to get appointments for psych and dietician in January and meet with my PCP in February. My consult was January 9th, 2023 and my surgery was done April 11. I was even offered a date of March 21, but I needed the time to clear work and get myself together for the pre-op diet etc.

[LindsayT 551]

Unfortunately, it all comes down to insurance requirements. If you're self pay, then that's the doctor's call, and you'll hopefully get answers at your appointment.

[onepound@atime 7]

Mine was about 4 weeks after I am self pay.

[MaryJ2299 12]

My journey til surgery was 5 months

I didn’t see my surgeon until I had completed all requirements of Medicare.
started March 31st had 4 weight ins at my pcp office, a psych eval, a dietitian eval. An orientation at the local hospital. And 2 support meetings. Within 30 days I needed full blood panel, and 2 years of medical history provided by my pcp and a letter of medical clearance. Met with Doctors team leader 1st.. then 5 days later meet with the Doctor on a Tues Aug 8th Asked if fast track was ok … why yes it is. Scheduled me for the following Thursday, August 17.
started my liquid diet the next day.
I was his last for the day because Medicare required me to stay overnight, everything went great. I’m a week out and started soft food today.

Hw 219.5 / Sw 202 / Cw 195.5 / Gw 140

I’m almost 67 and 5’ 2.5”