Am I getting my hopes up by trying to get the band if my BMI is only 37.8? I can only get this surgery if my insurance covers it. I have been on a roller coaster of diets for 15 years and I have mild apnea and nothing else. My doctor is fully supportive of my desire to have this surgery but she said she is suprised I am so healthy at my weight. Is there anyone else out there that has gotten insurance to approve with a BMI under 40?:tongue_smilie:

There are heaps of people on here that where under 40 and got the band. As for getting approved DO NOT suggest putting on weight intentionally to get surgery. Alot of people use weights in their clothes to up their actual weight so that they'll be approved. Good luck with everything.

Generally speaking if your BMI is under 40 you will have to show a couple of "co-morbidities" to be considered eligible. sleep apnea is definitely one, and your doctor may be able to find others in your bloodwork.

Don't give up if your insurance denies you the first time. You'll probably have to appeal, maybe even more than once, but it's certainly possible to be approved at your BMI.

Good luck!

Keep your head up, there are always chances that your insurance company will approve it. Is self-pay an option for you?

No I can't self pay. My husband is not 100% supportive of this and if I spent that much on it he would just die. He said only if insurance covered most of it then it would be okay and he would live with it but he thinks that being big is okay and is just a way of life.

I don't think so! My BMI was rather border line 35, 36 area. I supplied my sleep apnea information, my 5 year weight history, my hurting hips and knees, etc and my ins approved the surgery the first go around ~ no troubles. Just got scheduled for surgery this week ~ I'm so excited.... Good luck and don't give up!!

United Healthcare....they're incredibly ignorant, they won't pay for the surgery OR the after-care...got mine done in TJ, Mexico, and it was worth every penny. (7500 hotel included)

No I can't self pay. My husband is not 100% supportive of this and if I spent that much on it he would just die. He said only if insurance covered most of it then it would be okay and he would live with it but he thinks that being big is okay and is just a way of life.

Well, with all due respect to your husband, being "big" is not "okay," and it's not "just a way of life."

To be sure, being big, ultimately, is "just a way of death."

I'm sending you uber eHugs because I know it's frustrating enough to get to the point where you want to do this to fix your body, and then to run into so many stumbling blocks, especially from your own family, must make it that much harder!

I'm sending all sorts of positive thoughts and energy that you can find a way to have this work out for you!

HUGS!!

I'll put it to you another way....

The more fat you have on your body, the more pressure required to move the blood throughout that extra body mass + your "normal" body weight. More pressure == more blood pressure == more work your heart has to do. This equates to your heart wearing out faster than it normally would.

This doesn't even take into account the other co-morbidities. Joint wear, Type2 diabetes, gall bladder, liver, and kidney problems, as well as sleep apnea (which could kill you or the person in question)