First consult: 11/06/08, got surgery date yesterday: 01/14/09... all I've had to do is produce 5 years of records showing my weight problem and that's it... no psych eval, no song and dance with the insurance company, nothing. Why is this going so easy? Is my insurance really good or something (blue cross blue shield federal)? It just seems like everyone else's experiences were made a lot harder.

Kinda puzzling.

You may just have some really good insurance, and should count your lucky stars!

Even though you may not have had to go thru the song and dance with the Psych and Nut, its not always easy to get 5 years of medical history.

Good Luck!

Just make sure that you are mentally prepared and do a lot of research on life after the surgery because there is a reason most people have to go through those hoops its to prepare them. Not everybody but some people that do not prepare and just get the surgery have a much rougher time afterwards. There are also those that who do prepare and go through the classes and still have a very rough time so its different for each individual. I havent had the surgery yet so I cant tell you from my own experience just from what I have heard and read about. I can tell you this Im thankful that I am required to go through 6 months of classes to make sure I am ready. I pray for the best for you that you will do great in the surgery as well as through the whole journey.

I have BCBS Anthem, and I really didn't have to go through hoops either.

I went to the seminar on 10/1, first consult was about 10/10, and I just got banded on 11/21.

The only thing I had to provide was a psych eval (one-time visit), I did a barium swallow (due to many people having a hiatal hernia that needs fixing at the time of surgery), and a note of medical necessity from my PCP. That was it.

I do, however, plan to find a group or a therapist who specifically deals in weight-related issues. I know that I will need that during my weightloss, as I tend to "freak" when I get to a point where I start losing 50-70 pounds and look good. Then I sabotage myself -- fall off the wagon then stay off of it. But that is my choice, as I feel most if not all of us should consider. Something within us made us overeat, and that does not go away by being banded.

But yes, I have heard BCBS Federal is good.