:eek: I requested info from Allergan's Lap-Band site. I requested it by mail. Instead of the kit, I got a letter from the VP of marketing telling me that I don't qualify for Lap-Band surgery and offered me a bunch of Web sites with nonsurgical alternatives. As many of you probably know, to request a kit you have to punch in your height, weight and age and it tells you your BMI. According to the site, you need a BMI of 40, or lower with co-morbidities. My BMI is around 49. Seems like that is right in the range. Anyone else get a letter like this?

(I realize Allergan doesn't make the decision on whether my insurance company or doctor approves the surgery. It's frustrating that I won't have anything to bring to my doctor Thursday when I have my first visit to get the ball rolling.)

Julia:

That doesn't make any sense at all.

Your doctor will probably have some literature you can take with you.

Good luck with your appointment.

Sue

Julia,

lol, I got the same letter in the mail and I thought the same thing! My BMI was 39.44 but still I have 3 co-morbidities (gotta love that word huh? NOT). I was like, gee, thanks for the kit guys. I am self pay so I don't have to worry about the insurance company but I wanted the kit because it sounded like it would be helpful. I wonder if they even have kits, maybe they just send everyone a dear John letter.

Deb

they don't make the decision....go to the surgeon and get a consult...it is my understanding that you need a BMI of 40 without comorbidities and 35 with them...unless your 16 years old it would seem that you would qualify...good luck

I got the same letter too lol, I thought maybe I made a typo and put in the wrong information when I had to put it in the website. I just threw it away and went to the doctors instead.

Sounds kind of fishy to me....I wonder if there's a problem with the site security, and the letter you got was not really from Allergan but from a third party? Seems to me if I had a company, I would do my best to promote my product, not turn people away and point them in the direction of other alternatives. Just a thought!

Anyway, I would imagine you should be approved - good luck at the doctors!

If everyone is getting these letters and they obviously qualify, I would have to think they are having prolblems with their website. Also, as everyone says, they don't make the decision anyway, it is the doctors and the insurance companies.

Thanks, everyone. I guess Allergan's computer must be turning that first digit of everyone's BMI to a 1! If only it were that easy. :eek:

Julia, this is totally bogus. My BMI was probably lower than yours and I'm banded. I would go to the doctor and talk to them. They should be educated enough to know what the lapband is. Good luck.