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Peer to Peer BCBS also denied. Had appointment with primary care and she formulated letter in support with various reasons that stated I met all the criteria required after the peer to peer now waiting on appeal. I have hear that these tend not to go well. Looks like BCBS will avoid meeting their obligations to subscribers. I am so disappointed. I been forced to wait though out this process 1st 6 months of requirements by the Cleveland Clinic (6/4/2023 - November 29, 2023) to get Denied. Then for peer to peer (December 30, 2023) of which I have received nothing in writing about results. Just a email from Cleveland Clinic saying it was again denied. I let them know I wanted the Appeal that they submitted in January and now I will not have a result for another month 2/17/24. In the mean time still getting fatter went to annual appointment primary care 1/8/2023 and it is official BMI 41.2 with high blood pressure, joint issues and overall just not feeling well. OSU primary care wrote letter supporting me having procedure and yet BCBS still continues to make me wait. I was told decision will be available on a Saturday 2/17/2023 and that too seems a little off to me to make decision available on a Saturday. In mean time I am held hostage to this appeal process. I was told by BCBS I could yet appeal again to another outside agency if I am unhappy with their findings. This sucks and this should not be the health care insurance companies treat not just their insured clients but the hospital that support their plans. This is so out of wack. If somone qualifies for treatment by their provider (my doctors) and through the terms of my health care policy (BCBS) I should not have to go through this mountain of red tape and still yet possible be denied the care in which I pay for every month. This sucks.

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If they cover the procedure, then aren't they compelled to give the reason(s) for denial? I've often seen simple/stupid reasons for denial that were easily overcome. Even if not simple/stupid it gives a clear target to overcome. But a simple 'Denied' seems like a problem in itself.

Good luck,

Tek

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Yes, you would think that is simple and should be but the amount of work and time is the disappointing part. Thanks for the support and feedback. Cleveland Clinic is handling the appeal. Note when doing my search saw where bcbs is in B$ law suite that is class action. Company once had such a good name is find many ways to try to fatten the bottom line and I guess this is one of them. Frustrating and ruining them as reputable and reliable health care company. I have been with them 30 years. So sad.

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I'm so sorry you are going through this. I would suggest you formally request an explanation of the denial. They have to give it to you in writing far as I know. I would not rely solely on the clinic to deal with appeals for you. It could be something very simple that they are being stubborn about fixing and you are getting caught in the middle. I've had this happen on numerous occasions. Also, peer-to-peer CAN sometimes clear things up and get an approval through. I've had it happen with several expensive procedures they kept denying for stupid reasons... If bariatric surgery is covered in your plan, they have to tell you why they are denying you. I hope you hear good news soon!

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What kind of BCBS coverage do you have? When I had my initial sleeve surgery (and my revision an year later to bypass due to complications) I had BCBS (the highest Diamond plan) and they approved my initial surgery in 48 hours once it was submitted and 72 hours for my revision once it was submitted. I know some plans don't offer a lot of coverage, or require a thousand hoops to get an approval.

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As a BCBS users, I ended up doing self pay and going to Mexico....it was a joke to try and use BCBS.

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I had to reach out to BCBS myself, on two separate occasions, to figure out a claim issue and was able to get it resolved to get surgery covered. I was very strict with everything that I had to do to qualify for surgery in the first place, plus I have the persistence of a hungry mosquito.

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On 2/2/2024 at 11:00 PM, MC BCBSil said:

Peer to Peer BCBS also denied. Had appointment with primary care and she formulated letter in support with various reasons that stated I met all the criteria required after the peer to peer now waiting on appeal. I have hear that these tend not to go well. Looks like BCBS will avoid meeting their obligations to subscribers. I am so disappointed. I been forced to wait though out this process 1st 6 months of requirements by the Cleveland Clinic (6/4/2023 - November 29, 2023) to get Denied. Then for peer to peer (December 30, 2023) of which I have received nothing in writing about results. Just a email from Cleveland Clinic saying it was again denied. I let them know I wanted the Appeal that they submitted in January and now I will not have a result for another month 2/17/24. In the mean time still getting fatter went to annual appointment primary care 1/8/2023 and it is official BMI 41.2 with high blood pressure, joint issues and overall just not feeling well. OSU primary care wrote letter supporting me having procedure and yet BCBS still continues to make me wait. I understand how frustrating it can be when your insurance denies coverage for something important like weight loss surgery. I've been through a similar situation, and what really helped me was getting advice from experts. One resource I found useful during the appeals process was nursing essay writing service. They offer a lot of insight into how to navigate insurance rejections and even help with writing the necessary documentation. If you're having trouble getting the surgery approved, don't give up—keep fighting, and seek out the right support to strengthen your case. I was told decision will be available on a Saturday 2/17/2023 and that too seems a little off to me to make decision available on a Saturday. In mean time I am held hostage to this appeal process. I was told by BCBS I could yet appeal again to another outside agency if I am unhappy with their findings. This sucks and this should not be the health care insurance companies treat not just their insured clients but the hospital that support their plans. This is so out of wack. If somone qualifies for treatment by their provider (my doctors) and through the terms of my health care policy (BCBS) I should not have to go through this mountain of red tape and still yet possible be denied the care in which I pay for every month. This sucks.

Agree with you.

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    • Doughgurl

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      · 1 reply
      1. Phil Penn

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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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