Question:
Has anybody been approved recently with a BMI of 60 and only 1 co morbidity
I did my psy eval on 3/10 and was told I was an excellent candidate for the surgery. I'm waiting on my insurance to approve (Blue Cross / Blue Shield). My concern is that other than being 5"6" tall and weighing 422 pounds, the only other think wrong with me is I have high blood pressure. My paper work that I submitted to insurance list every diet that I have tried over the years and I tried almost everyone on the list. Should I be concerned? — Lurnia Marie I. (posted on March 13, 2006)
March 13, 2006
Most insurance companies that cover wls require a bmi of 40, so I think
you'll be fine. The only reason I can think of for denying your request is
if they exclude the surgery in your plan, and hopefully, they don't!
Good luck. With a bmi of 60, you don't need to have current comobidities.
Unfortunately, without the surgery or weightloss by any means, you stand a
huge chance of developing them.
— LauraA
March 13, 2006
The criteria established by the National Institutes of Health and the
American Society for Bariatric Surgery reads as follows:
Namely, patients are candidates if they have a Body Mass Index over 35 and
suffer from any health condition related to obesity. Anyone with a BMI over
40, regardless of health conditions is a candidate.
Best of luck getting approved. If you are turned down, don't lose hope.
Nothing worth having is easy, keep your chin up!
— kjoy
March 13, 2006
Personally I have BCBS of GA....I had a BMI of 45 and my only comorbidity
was reflux. I was approved within one week of submitting my paperwork.
The question is....does your employer carry the weight loss surgery rider
in your insurance coverage? LAP RNY 12/22/05
— mmcphee1
March 13, 2006
I too had a BMI of 60 maybe 61? and I am only 5'2 and had no comorbidities
and was also approved within a week or so.Good Luck Pam
— sunnie
March 13, 2006
Thank you all for the responses. My insurance does allow the surgery.
several women at work has already had it done. Plus I called to verify
that they cover it before I began the process. I just need to sit back and
be paitient. It has not been a week yet.
— Lurnia Marie I.
March 13, 2006
Don't forget that pain in the joints count along with many other
co-morbidities. I also used plantars fasiitis(foot problem) along with
borderline high blood pressure and borderline high sugar levels.
— HeidiXOXO
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