Hello everyone,

My name is Kim and I am a new member to lapbandtalk. My question is, my BMI is 41 I guess which is on the lower side of the acceptable range (insurance purposes). What are my chances of insurance approving me?? I have Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, which I hear is one of the better insurance companies to have. I can't help but wonder if there is anyone else out there that had this low of a BMI without any medical conditions and was approved on the first try. I am 100lbs over weight, and according to my surgeon I am a candidate for the band. I have submitted all of my paper work and am now just awaiting a response. Please keep your fingers crossed for me! Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Congratulations to all of your success!

Kim

If your BMI is 41 you should be fine...but insurance can be jerks though.

Another thing I know about blue cross blue shield is they require a 6 month supervised diet pretty sure

HI! I have anthem N.H. bc/bs

I have to have BMI of 35 w/ medical issues OR just a BMI of 40 w/out med. issues. I'm a bit nervous because I know I'm right in between.

I think you'll be good from what I here! GOOD LUCK!!

Hello everyone,

My name is Kim and I am a new member to lapbandtalk. My question is, my BMI is 41 I guess which is on the lower side of the acceptable range (insurance purposes). What are my chances of insurance approving me?? I have Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, which I hear is one of the better insurance companies to have. I can't help but wonder if there is anyone else out there that had this low of a BMI without any medical conditions and was approved on the first try. I am 100lbs over weight, and according to my surgeon I am a candidate for the band. I have submitted all of my paper work and am now just awaiting a response. Please keep your fingers crossed for me! Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Congratulations to all of your success!

Kim

Hi - I have Blue Cross MA HMO and I got approved no problem with a BMI of 40.4! I did not have to do a 6 month program nor did a have any co-morbilities. Good Luck with your journey. Hope this helps.

KIM

I'm Anthem BC BS, BMI 39.5, and was approved over the phone. I've high blood pressure, depression, high cholesterol, bad knees.

Good luck to you.

Hi, I have Blue Shield Blue Cross Fed PPO in CA. With my insurance they automatically approve anyone who has a BMI of 40 or higher, without comorbities. One good thing about my ins. here is that they don't require the 6 months of supervised dieting. My BMI is 37 and I have comorbities. I am just waiting to hear if I am approved or not. Lisa

Hi. I was just approved by BCBS in 3 days. I DID NOT send any info to BCBS until I knew I met all of their requirements, and yes it did include 6 months supervised weightloss with my Doctor. My original BMI was 42. Call one of your insurance reps and have them fax you the requirements for lap band. Then, sit with your Doc and decide how to best execute approval. m

I don't understand why some people have to do yje 6 month diet & some don't. If I was to do that I'd be under the BMI to get approved. I don't get it

Your insurance company looks at your beginning weight for your BMI rating. My BMI was 42. I had a 6 month weight loss with my Doctor. My current BMI when everything was submitted to insurance is 38. But, again the insurance looks at beginning weight. If they require six months....make sure you go to your Doc every month and that your doctor states in their dictation 'obesity' and 'lap band' and 'weight loss' so your insurance sees you are working on loosing weight. I also had to have a sleep apnea study, psyhological evaluation, meetings with a registered dietitian. Lots of hoops but it was not as difficult as it first appeared. Another tip..make sure you really like your doctor and your lap band surgeon because it is a 'long term' relationship.

I suggest for all to start highlighting your other problems. For example, high blood pressure, high glucose, back problems, knee problems, etc. Any problems that you have due to being over weight. If you don't have any problems which is unusual for someone who is over weight, Start seeing specialists in different fields. One of them will find something wrong with you. As for this can help getting approved by your insurance.

thanks fro the advise. That clears up a lot!

I have BCBS/FEP and had no co-morbids and my BMI was 42. It took less than a week for my insurance co. to approve me. I was lucky because they only required a referral letter from my surgeon. That was it.

I have BCBS/FEP and had no co-morbids and my BMI was 42. It took less than a week for my insurance co. to approve me. I was lucky because they only required a referral letter from my surgeon. That was it.

Have you had your surgery yet??

Hi Heidi - yes, I was banded on April 10th. My starting weight was 259 pounds and I'm 5'6. I had to have a port revision done this past Friday (June 13th); my port flipped after surgery. So I just got my first fill - I'm about a month overdue for fills. I go back tomorrow to my doctor.

I lost about 15 pounds on my pre-surgery diet (low carbs) and the rest after banding. I'm really happy with the results so far. It is coming off slowly, but that's what it needs to do. I've been exercising 4-5 days a week and I think that has really helped boost the inches lost. I'm just setting mini goals right now.

Have you gone for your first consult yet?