Just beginning.........Question about 6 mth diet

[aimeed]

Well I have the ball rolling now. I have a consultation with the surgeon coming up on the 20th and seminar the same day (very excited about that)

My insurance will be covering the surgery. They do require a 6mth supervised or structured diet. Weight Watchers is approved for that and I am in my 2nd month.

Usually, what does the insurance company look for with the 6 month diet? Are they wanting to see if I am able to lose weight on my own or looking to see if I cant lose weight?

I need to know what to do in order for my insurance to cover me, LOL

Thanks in advance,
Aimee

[natex14]

Typically they are looking for this to make sure you actually tried. If you are able to quickly lose weight and keep it off through a program, then you wouldn't need surgery.

There are some insurances that won't approve the surgery if you go under a 40 or 35 BMI, so I would ask your insurance about the stipulations. Everyone has a different insurance, and every insurance seems to be a little different.

[Bufflehead]

You should check with your insurance -- and get the answer in writing if at all possible. Check your member benefit handbook, and if there is no specified outcome there, call your insurance and verify. Ask for the answer to be sent in writing. If they won't do it, write THEM -- "thanks for taking the time to answer my question. This is just to confirm that I spoke with [name of representative] on [date] and she advised me that [I don't need to lose any weight on the six month supervised weight loss plan in order to qualify for bariatric surgery/I have to lose 10% of my body weight/whatever the answer was].
You can't assume what the answer will be, even if someone has the same insurance company as you. Plans will vary even with the same provider. I have a Cigna plan and my specific plan required me to be on a six month supervised diet and FAIL at losing 10% of my body weight -- if I had gone by what other people on internet forums were doing, I would have messed up my chance to qualify for surgery.
Good luck!

[Aquajog]

My blue Cross said 3 months supervised by doctor or dietitian . And a written report when finished.

[dominalove]

I'm new here, I just went thru 4 months of the 6 month diet required by blue cross of north Carolina, my bariatric insurance coordinator called me this morning to say that blue cross of nc no longer requires the 6 month diet and she submitted my paper work hopefully I will have surgery by September.