Hi All!

One of BCBS of IL's requirements for insurance approval is a 24 month history of weight loss attempts with results (that is my understanding of it, anyhow. I requested a list of requirements from BCBS a week ago today and still haven't gotten anything, I'll be calling them later). Has anyone else had to do this? What format did you use for the 24 month diet history? I'd like to go ahead and get a rough copy started so I can work on finalizing it. I want to make this process as smooth and quick as possible!

Good lord! Are you sure? that seems insanely excessive to me. Most insurance companies require 4-6 months of weight tracking, meetings with nutritionists, tests, etc... and multiple years worth of proof of being overweight.

Aetna required doctor records dating back 5 years, one per year, with a weigh in. Nothing more. For the one year i was missing data, a photo that was date stamped was sufficient.

I hope that the 24 month requirement is just a proof of your weight for the past 2 years. Because actively attempting to loose weight with trainers, nutritionists, etc, would cost thousands of dollars.

and what happens if at 23 months your company decides to switch insurance carriers? Or you switch jobs?

Good lord! Are you sure? that seems insanely excessive to me. Most insurance companies require 4-6 months of weight tracking, meetings with nutritionists, tests, etc... and multiple years worth of proof of being overweight.

Aetna required doctor records dating back 5 years, one per year, with a weigh in. Nothing more. For the one year i was missing data, a photo that was date stamped was sufficient.

I hope that the 24 month requirement is just a proof of your weight for the past 2 years. Because actively attempting to loose weight with trainers, nutritionists, etc, would cost thousands of dollars.

and what happens if at 23 months your company decides to switch insurance carriers? Or you switch jobs?

My understanding is that they want a record of my weight loss attemps from the previous 24 months, not a supervised diet for the next 24 months (I hope not, at least!)

Aetna asks for the same thing. The doctors office just told me to get proof of my weight in the form of my medical records for the last 2 years and that should suffice. I still have 3 month to go. So, I can't be certain that is enough.

Hi. I have BCBSIL. I was required to have proof of obesity for 24 months via doctor's notes/medical records. I was also required to have completed 6 months of supervised dieting within that 24 months. I hope this helps!

Bottom line is, if you're obese, your PCP or OBGYN has talked to you about weight loss. May have pressed you to make efforts, offered diets to try, whatever. If you have a history of regular doctor visits, you have the basis of that history in your doctor's files and a letter from that doctor with expanded information from you incorporated will likely be enough!