Ok so I am trying my best not to just freak out and run around in circles screaming with excitement. This will probably be a very long post as I want to get it off my chest :ohmy:

I started checking into LB about 2 years ago. I knew my insurance wouldn't pay so I was like crud and I thought I can do this myself sheesh how hard could it be to lose 100 pounds! haha

I lost 52 pounds and then thought I could take on the world! I then quit smoking and decided that eating was more fun than the cig addiction and proceeded to pack on the 52 pounds again! Then my company switched insurance to BCBS of Minnesota... This is the best thing that happened to me. We switched in Sept of 07 and by 10/07 I was scheduling 6 appts for the nutrition counselor, attending seminars, and meeting with the surgeon.

I was well informed ahead of time before switching insurance so I was on the ball the minute we switched. I cannot thank my company enough for changing.

I submitted for pre auth on 4/3 and within a day and a 1/2 I was given authorization and a surgery date!

I will be banded on 4/23 now I have a BMI of 44 with no comorbities. I will be banding at Sacred Heart Bariatric Center Eugene, Oregon by Dr. Umbach. Thankfully no preop diet since i lost more than 10 pounds.

Edited April 7, 200818 yr by Brandy~

Wow, 1 1/2 days, I think that may very well be a new record! That is awesome news, congratulations!!

Wow that is such good news! I also have BCBS Minnesota and will be submitting to insurance on June 1st, and I stress every day on if they will approve it or not? My company has been bought out by another company and will most likely switch insurances when they take over late June early July! I am freaking out!! Thanks for sharing I have hope today!!!!

That is soooo great. I have BCBS in NY and I hope they are as quick as that.

I have BCBS (Empire) also. My information was sent in on either Jan 29 or 30th and I was approved over the phone late in the day on Jan 30. Congratulations!

Wow that is such good news! I also have BCBS Minnesota and will be submitting to insurance on June 1st, and I stress every day on if they will approve it or not? My company has been bought out by another company and will most likely switch insurances when they take over late June early July! I am freaking out!! Thanks for sharing I have hope today!!!!

I think you should be ok if you have any questions on what all I did PM me and I can walk you through it. It really just took patience.

Congratulations Brandy. I also have BCBS MN. In my last month and then can submit. That was a pretty quick approval. My dr.'s office says about 14 days with BCBS. Can't believe you have no pre-op diet. Good luck

Congratulations Brandy. I also have BCBS MN. In my last month and then can submit. That was a pretty quick approval. My dr.'s office says about 14 days with BCBS. Can't believe you have no pre-op diet. Good luck

Thats how long my doctors office told me. They told me they submitted it so I called the insurance to 'confirm' the receipt of it (I am really impatient haha) Then I called the next day in the afternoon and was told they were working on it but close to answer. I hung up and about 10 minutes later they called me back to say yes!

Thats how long my doctors office told me. They told me they submitted it so I called the insurance to 'confirm' the receipt of it (I am really impatient haha) Then I called the next day in the afternoon and was told they were working on it but close to answer. I hung up and about 10 minutes later they called me back to say yes!

Good for you, Brandy. You must be very happy to get your answer. My dr.s office submitted mine at three months and was told (after two weeks) that BCBS wanted me to do another 3 months. Was a little disappointing at the time but now I am happy I have had the time to think about what I am getting into. Gave me time to plan ahead, etc. I cannot have my surgery until at least the middle of June (we farm and don't want to do it during planting season). I know I will be ready when the time comes!

Oh ok. I remembered reading your situation in another of your posts. I commend you for having more patience than me!

WOW! I have my appointment with the surgeon Thursday. It's my last thing before submitting to BCBS Federal Plan. Hope it goes as well as yours!

Congrats!

I'm not-so-patiently waiting on approval from Empire BCBS. I called the insurance company yesterday and was told everything was submitted on 4/2 and the customer service rep thought the paperwork looked complete. Now I just have to find more patience!

Congrats Brandy! Good luck to you!

Shouldn't be too much longer now Celtic. I need a buddy with the same date as me I can't seem to find anyone else on 4/23 :thumbs_up:

Oh ok. I remembered reading your situation in another of your posts. I commend you for having more patience than me!

It really hasn't been too bad, Brandy. I guess I would recommend the six month period for anyone thinking of being banded. I am sure I will have questions after I am banded and will need support from people that have gone through it but really feel that I am ready and well-informed and can take what I've learned and do the best I can after being banded.

When I was first starting the LB I thought the 6 months was crazy and I knew it all... But I didn't I have spent the last 6 months preparing for this huge life change. I would probably do it the same though if I had to do it over again... I have learned a ton and think that I have enough knowledge to be pretty successful at it as long as I follow through which I plan to do. I worked hard to make it here so no reason to stop now. :frown:

I am so glad I have read this post. Have not started the 6 month, suppervised, weight loss yet. I am getting nervous just waiting for that.