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What were your insurance company requirements for approval?



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Who's you're insurance company and what were their approval requirements for the surgery?

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My nutritionist walked me through. She had all the insurance info for me. All insurance companies are different. I had to be on a low calorie diet for six months. My friend had to follow a low GI diet for a short amount of time. I had to document behavior changes. I was required to have a phyc exam. I had to see a pulmonologist(sp) and maybe another - cant remember. After I completed it all, I was approved. I found all the requirements at my insurance companies web site. I searched the articles for lap band. Good luck

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:cool2:I have BCBS community blue PPO, I went through a bariatric center that was contracted with my insurance company so it made everything so much easier. my bmi was over 50 so that made me not have to have any documentation, just needed a psyche eval..intl consult was 4/7, eval is 4/17...center said that i should be banded by the end of may.

Edited by new_jewel

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I have bcbs of Minnesota and was a cake walk:

1) 6 month dietitian appts

2) Physc eval

The rest the surgeon required. took 1.5 days to get approved after submitting pre auth.

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I have one of the UHC PPOs and I needed a BMI 35+ with 2+ comorbidities or BMI 40+ (very standard). That was it.

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Does anyone else have federal bc/bs? I have heard it pays the best, anyone out know from experience?

Ragdollx19 does I have talked to her in the past.

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insurance ---Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield VA (PPO)

requirements ---a letter of medical necessity from surgeon

APPROVED IN 24 HOURS!!!! :redface:

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Cool...thanks for the info guys! I might be getting a new job but I don't know who they have they're insurance with just yet. I'm just trying to get an idea of who has dealt with what company and what their experience was like so when I get my new insurance I might be able to have an idea of what I'm up against again. I just hope this new place doesnt have a dang exclusion like my current job does. Dont even get me started on that....lmao!

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I have UHC and they require the BMI of 35+ with at least 2 comorbidities. Do you know if they will still approve a person who is hovering at 34.9-35.3 with 3-5 comorbidities? I know it varies from division - division. I'm just wondering how anal they are about the BMI.

Thanks,

Melissa

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Hi ya'll! Just joined this thingy and am keeping my fingers crossed that Blue Shield of CA will make me a happy girl in a couple of weeks. I know that I had to get a phsycological, medical, surgical and dietary evaluation, but no word yet on if I'll have to get the 6 month diet thing. Gosh I hope not!! I've been going to weight watchers for years, but never was able to stick to it. I tossed all the books I had, and simply don't have records of all the other diets I've tried. I did a weight loss thing with a doc in Vegas when I lived there, but I don't think he's even around anymore. Does anyone have any experience with BS of CA PPO? Please tell me that it was okay and didn't require 6mo of diet records. My BMI is 41 and I have arthritis, bursitus, along with ruptured discs in the back, sleep apnea, depression, and more. No high blood pressure or heart disease, although it's in my family. Someone tell me that BS of CA will be easy!!! I'm worried!:D

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I was approved yesterday for the lapband proceedure!! Now I'm scheduled to have it done on June 6th!!!!!:smile2:

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I'm with United Healthcare.

I needed the psych eval (which is standard with my surgeon anyway). Their requirement with no comorbidities is BMI above 40, I just made it with a 41. My surgeon submitted the required information and I was approved in about a week and a half.

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:tongue2::grouphug::grouphug:Congratulations, Jodi!!!

I truly hope I have the same success and luck as you with United Healthcare. I really do. However, I'm scared to death I won't, since my BMI is under 40. Don't get me wrong. I have several comorbidities. I just don't have the 5 yr. PCP 5 yr. documented BMI/weight history. I had my Chiropractor submit a 5 yr. history. I really hope they accept it. Please pray for me and keep your fingers crosed for me!

Thanks,

Melissa

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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.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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