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Insurance confusion...



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I am getting different information from different sources. I have UHC Select Choice insurance. I know the lap band is a covered benefit. I'm trying to determine if a 6 month diet and exercise plan is required. When I call, member services tells me the only thing required is a documented diagnosis of morbid obesity. When my surgeon's office calls, they are told a diagnosis, plus a 5 year weight history and a diet and exercise plan are needed, but did not tell them how long of a supervised diet is required. When I talk to my HR person at work, she says a 12 MONTH supervised diet is required! AHHH, I'm about to tear my hair out!

What should I do now? I've asked both the surgeon's office and my HR person to call again to confirm the information, but I am getting frustrated at all these different responses.

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Working with insurance can get frustrating.. I was able to find the information needed about my requirements on my insurance website..

When you call in ask them if they can send you something in writing. That will help but as always, nothing is written in stone and may be subject to change.. Keep a positive outlook, it won't be too much longer now.. If you have to wait 12 months then you will have more time to be prepared.

Your surgery date will be here before you know it.. :thumbup:

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Definitely call and ask for a copy of their policy on WLS. Some companies have it on their website, others don't. Mine didn't have it on the member services site, but on a different one. Try not to get too frustrated. It's only a matter of time now! Good luck!

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      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.
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      1. LeighaTR

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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. 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.

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        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.

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