Question:
My insurance does a review based on diet history & med.prob.

Any advise on how I can prepare this information so it looks "good" to the insurance company? I've been overweight for 20+ years. Do I need to have the dates,pounds lost,names of diets etc? I have some health problems,but not as serious as some I've seen listed here. I guess I'm afraid I won't be unhealthy "enough" for them to approve the surgery. I have a family history of diabetes, heart disease(my mother needs open heart surgery,after a heart attack) Will these things be enough to get me approved? I'm 260 lbs. with a BMI of between 40 & 42,depending on who's chart I use. Any advice you can give would be appreciated! Sorry to be so long winded but I want to do everything right so I can be approved. Thanks    — Lisa P. (posted on June 19, 1999)

June 19, 1999
Hi Lisa, I saw your post and thought I would share how I presented my history. I created a Word file showing all the diet attemps I have made. The most important attemp was the doctor supervised liquid protein diet I was on and off for 10 years. I also went to all the doctors I had been to for problems related to obesity and got copies of my medical records. I sent them in along with cover letters describing the problem and how it was related. Examples are sleep apnea, joint problems in my knees and hip, stasis determititas in my legs, edema, and depression. I tried to overwhelm them with evidence to get a quick decision. They of course proceeded to lose the package and it took them several months to find it. But with patience and determination they finally gave in and approved. They even considered the doctor to be an in-network surgeon and the hospital to also be considered that way. Both were in a city that was 75 miles away. Good luck and don't give up, write if you have any questions.
   — Ken C.

June 20, 1999
Document every failed attempt at losing ... approx date, what type of program, how much you lost and approximately how much more you regained. Write a very graphic and detailed account of your attempts and why you feel that you need to have this surgery as the only means left to you that gives you hope of a permanent weightloss. Good Luck!
   — Sherrie G.