I have just begun my 6 month PS diet. I have cigna and was told that in many cases they require it, so I thought I would get started just in case. I was wondering if you have to wait until your six months are over before you can start with things like the nutritionist and training appts?? Thanks for any help...Kimberly

My 6th month diet is nutritonist appts lol.

My 6th one is tomorrow then I have 6 more ending in october.

I've been doing everything else while on the diet cept meeting with the surgeon that wil be in October and getting an endoscopy. Everything else has been while on this supervised diet for insurance.

Are you saying you are have to do 12 months of supervised dieting?? Why so much?? When will they submit to insurance??

Kimberly

No only 6 months I have 2 appts a month. 1 every 2 weeks. They send everything into the insurance at the end of the 6 months from what I was told.

I started my 6 mo journey and they wanted me to loose 26 lbs before surgery. I also meet with a dietician every two weeks .. dietician is not coverd by my insurance because it's not a MD doing it!! it cost 127.00 everytime I go. I keep telling myself to hang in there. It gets confusing because she said I should only loose 1 -2 lbs a week so it feels like forever to get to the 26.

I have just begun my 6 month PS diet. I have cigna and was told that in many cases they require it, so I thought I would get started just in case. I was wondering if you have to wait until your six months are over before you can start with things like the nutritionist and training appts?? Thanks for any help...Kimberly

My PCP sent me in to do the Pulmonary exam during the 6th month because the exam needed to be up-to-date. You can do the psych exam earlier. I saw the nutritionist the first month. Didn't meet with the surgeon other than the seminar until after I had completed all of Cigna's requirements. Good luck with your journey!

I have just begun my 6 month PS diet. I have cigna and was told that in many cases they require it, so I thought I would get started just in case. I was wondering if you have to wait until your six months are over before you can start with things like the nutritionist and training appts?? Thanks for any help...Kimberly

Kimberly,

I have CIGNA too. I started back in January with a PCP visit for the six month PCP/diet history. In January I also did my psych. eval. and my nutritionist vist. Then I continued visiting my PCP for the next 5 months. A little over a week ago my surgeon's insurance specialist sent everything off to CIGNA for approval. Now just waiting for them to give the go ahead. She has dealt with them for years and feels it was a solid submission. I would say get started with everything now. So once those visits are over everything can be faxed over.

Thank you for responding and I can not wait to hear the outcome. I wish you the best and keep me posted!! My BMI is low, but I have several co-mobidities....I hate the fact that the insurance co has all the control...Good luck!!

I am not sure what would happen if you went below the 35 BMI during your six months supervised weight loss program. My PCP visits were through Thanksgiving and the Xmas holidays so I just maintained. (That was like losing to me for that time of the year.) I believe that if I had dropped below 35, I would not have been approved.

I don't know what CIGNA's stand is if your BMI gets below 35. I don't think they are looking to see if you lose (per say) during your six months, but just to see that you made efforts. Also, CIGNA now requires proof of your weight from two years ago. I believe this was new this May. I was able to use the records from a doctor's visit from two years ago, where my weight was documented. I guess this is so CIGNA knows that you didn't just decide to gain all this weight just to have the surgery! I just had to laugh. I know it is silly, but you are right they have all the control and we have to play their game. I just hope I am good at playing it! Anything I learn along the way I will share with you! Good luck to you and keep me posted!

I also have cigna and have been told four times now that I do not need a six month diet. I do need to have a five year history of having a BMI of 40 or above or having a BMI of 35 or greater and being 100lbs over my ideal weight. There might be one period of time where I was not 100lbs over my ideal weight, but it was only for a very short period of time. I just hope that CIGNA does not turn around and tell me that I need the six month diet. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Thanks......

When are you going to file your claim?? I am curious what they will say. Keep me posted. Kimberly

I live in Atlanta and have UHC as insurance carrier. I had to have the hosp workup, psych, and dietian but no one has said anything about a 6mo pre surgery diet. I have ordered the protein that is recommended and am going to start using that and another pre-surgery diet before my surgery on 9/26/08. If that is too much to handle or I can lose 1-2lbs weekly I may cancel the surgery.

I have just begun my 6 month PS diet. I have cigna and was told that in many cases they require it, so I thought I would get started just in case. I was wondering if you have to wait until your six months are over before you can start with things like the nutritionist and training appts?? Thanks for any help...Kimberly

I was checking in to see how things were going.

I wanted to give you a heads up with CIGNA....I was finally approved on Friday after three weeks of waiting and having to strong arm them. I would say once it has been submitted give them a week. Then start calling every other day! I did this and still got the run around. My paperwork sat in predetermination forever. Once when I called I was told it was in nurses' review and I would have an answer by the end of the week. Well, I had to threaten CIGNA in order to get an answer. I told them that if my husband had to get his company's benefits people involved we are set to call them, and then you can work it out with them. Because after all....it is the company's money you are making a decision on. Less than an hour later I was approved. So just stay on top of them.

Just wanted to give you a heads up! Hope all is going well! My surgery date is set for Aug. 25th...so I am so excited right now!

Congratulations on your approval. If you haven't yet, give up coffee and soda. And find a protein shake you like while you wait for your surgery.

I wish you all the best!

Congratulations on your approval. If you haven't yet, give up coffee and soda. And find a protein shake you like while you wait for your surgery.

I wish you all the best!

Thank you! I don't drink coffee and have already given up soda, but was curious if you could suggest a protein shake that is decent.