Hello Ohio,

I am beginning my lapband journey.I have my 1st seminar on Feb.2. What should I expect and how long does the process take?I have anthem bcbs FEP.

Welcome to the journey. The 1st seminar is an easy thing - maybe lasts an hour to 90 minutes. They held the Mt. Carmel one at an auditorium and there were alot of people and it wasn't intimidating at all. There is a Riverside banded group that can tell you more about their sessions but what I was told was that the Dr. who heads that program went around and personally introduced himself to almost everyone who came.

There is an Insurance forum section in this web site. On that section, you can find all the people who have the same kind of insurance you do and see what they've been through in getting approved, submitted.

What part of Ohio are you from? Under the "N E 1 been Banded at Mt. Carmel" thread under Ohio's forum I have posted a detailed list of what I've been through so far. Its been 6 months since I went to my first forum like you are talking about and now the surgeon's office is getting ready to submit for insurance approval this coming week. Hopefully I'll know this month if I am approved. Then it involves a 2 week pre-op diet before your surgery date so I am hoping to be banded maybe in February.

I am from Hillsboro, Ohio and will be visiting Dr. Curry in Cincinnati

I have BC/BS FEP, too.

I had my surgery last june.

i did not have to do a 6 month diet which was great. and once the insurance got all my paperwork, it took less than 10 days to get an approval letter.

after the surgery they did give me a few fits, though.

they sent every bill back saying they needed more information. Which was frustrating because they already had all the info. but eventually, 6 months later they finally paid the hospital bill which was over 22,000.

i only had to pay 1000, which was fine with me.

i usally post over on the columbus board or the NE 1 Banded at Mt Carmel board. come on over.