I am currently going through the 3-mo. requirements (doctor and dietician) for AETNA. I also have five years (even longer) documented obesity weights. However, I don't have a lot "wrong" with me--I've been on high cholesterol meds for the last ten years and Nexium for probably the last 5 for GERD. Has anyone out there been accepted for surgergy by AETNA with a POS II. I have also been on thyroids meds for over ten years. I'm afraid to get my hopes up about the surgery b/c I'm afraid they will reject me. Also, what does surgergy cost when out of pocket? I live in West Houston and working with Dr. Ferrari. Has anyone out there had a similar situation or have been approved by AETNA?:smile:

I'm not sure how to post links here, but if you go to the Insurance section/forum, there is a great thread about Your Aetna Experience (or something to that affect). I'm going through Aetna too, but sadly, I think it depends on who reviews your file, what mood they are in.. etc. LOL.

I had Aetna POS II and have been turned down 2x by them. I have a BMI around 54 and have had it for over 5 year. I also have 3 slip disk in my neck and two in my back as well as sleep app. They wanted the 6/mo requirement so i did that(got done this Dec) and they said it would still take up to 6-8weeks for them to review it.

So i dropped them and took my wifes plan (United) as of the first of the year. Everything has been sent to them and I have a date of 1/24 for the band. I have been on the pre-op diet for 6days now and i hope it's a go. Unlike the first two times my doctors office said they don't think i will have any problem. Sorry if I put a dim lite on Aetna, But they gave me a hard time from the start. Just hang in there

Even though it took a while for them to approve me I think....I got approved after 6 weeks or so. I've had a BMI of over 40 for the past five years but have absolutely no co-morbids. The previous poster is right, I think it depends on the person reviewing your file and what mood their in. Good Luck.

What if you have one year where your BMI is only 36 but you have other years over 40 with a total of 7years? Will they kick it out?

They need more then just BMI. I had a BMI over 50 and over 45 for more then 5 years. Still no good. You have to do the 6/mo Doctor diet. If you didn't start it yet you should soon. I had a number of things other then BMI (Sleep Ap, Bad disk in my neck & Back) but they wouldn't move until i got done with the 6/mo and it had to be 6 in a row.

I changed at the last minute and went with United but i tried with Aetna POS II for almost a year.