Feeling I may not be approved

Linda...I wondered the same exact thing, and even though I don't have to do the 6 month diet, I have heard from others that if you fall under the BMI range after it, you will still be approved because it is more about not being able to keep the weight off rather than not being able to lose the weight. I find it ironic that we are the best dieters out there and that we know exactly how and what to do, we just struggle with keeping it off!

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Banded on 7/30/08 by Dr. Geiss in Syosset, NY
272H/261S/140G

Thanks, Kathy and Angel. I will hope for the best. I am not nervous about surgery, just all this red tape. Thanks for your patience.

It's only natural. Once you decide you want somehting so much, that fear of denial is going to be there until you actually see it about to happen. All you can do is know the insurance company's requirements, do everything you can to amke sure they are met, then cross your fingers and hope for the best.

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Hello All! I've been reading all your post and I know what you are all going through w/ the Ins company. After finding out what the ins will cover and won't...I got really discouraged. My BMI= 35 w/ no comorbidity. Which means that I would have to balloon to BMI=40 before the Ins will cover (after the 6mth dr supervised diet). So finally, I just deceided to pay for the LAP-BAND^® procedure myself. Finally, found a good hospital and good Dr. I have my Dr consultation next Wednesday to see if I will qualify. KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED!

Well, I was there just about 6 mo. ago. I researched LAP-BAND^® for several months, decided it was for me, went to a seminar and was told my insurance would pay. I got so excited. I was ready to go. What they really meant was, my insurance would pay for it if I jumped through all the hoops, one of which is a 6 mo. supervised diet. I felt like had been kicked in the stomach. I felt sick and let down. I didn't think I could wait six mo., but what choice did I have?! Everyone on this forum said it would go by quickly, even at three months, I didn't feel it was goin by very quickly. My last appointment is 5/30, and looking back, it did go by quickly. Now my demons are telling me I won't get approved anyway, and even if I did, it's probably not going to work for me, so you see, at each stage it's always something new and more to worry about. Damn those demons in my head!! All I know, is to not give up hope, and never stop trying, and to Hell with the demons in our heads.

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Cakegal
Surgery Date: August 12, 2008
First Fill: 9/24/2008
Second Fill 11/06/08

I think the fear of failure is the worst of all because we have ALWAYS failed. I know it has been for me. Part of that failure includes being denied by insurance. The fact is, long-term success IS possible with the help of the Band!! Yes, some insurance companies make it hard for approval. If they make you go through a 6 month diet before they will approve you, who cares if it means ultimately you WILL get approved?? It is only 6 months, and chances are you have been fighting your weight a lot longer than that already. Plus, once you get approval and have surgery, look how much farther along you will be on your weight loss! It is just so frustrating to me when people say they are going to give up on surgery because of that 6 months. In the big scheme of things, 6 months is nothing more than a tick on the clock.

Good luck to Cakegal. Glad you stuck it out and are almost there!! Let us know when you get that approval!

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My insurance did the exact same thing.I had to do six months of a supervised weight lost program. I just completed the weight watchers.My first appoint with the Dr. is on June 13th and on the 17th I see the nutritionist and do the psyic evaluation. I was frustrated at first because of the same thing.

Good advice from everyone. I've decided to use this time constructively. Yesterday I started practising the tiny bites and chewing until food was liquified. Interestingly, it's not as easy as it sounds, so it will be good to work on that. Because of that, I couldn't finish my dinner, although it was small. Normally, I would think this was a good thing but I dare not lose a pund until my initial consultation. How strange! I'm also going to use this time to gather my supplies, since I most likely won't feel like it post op, and DH is like a visitor from another planet in a store! Started working with small weights for my arms...shouldn't make me lose weight and may make for less baggy arm skin. I heard today that a guy who works with DH and had the full Gastric bypass did not have to do the supervised diet. That would sure be a blessing. But either way, I'm moving forward!

Don't feel too bad, My insurance requires a year of a Doctor supervised program. Very upsetting to find out.