Question:
How to show proof of supervised dieting for insurer.

I am just starting the WLS process. My insurance (medicare) and the hosptial requires that you show proof of repeated weight loss failures under the supervision of a doctor. Like most, I have lost and gained AT LEAST 500 pounds. Most of my life I was without medical insurance, so I could not afford to be under a doctors care for weight loss. Years ago as a teen, when Oprah lost weight on her liquid shake diet,,,I did try this with a doctor..Lated only about a month. Any suggestions what to tell the insurance/hospital ?    — WABBIT F. (posted on August 8, 2001)

August 8, 2001
Even if you had had insurance you would have had to pay for any doctor supervised weight lose attempts yourself anyway. Almost all insurance companies deny coverage for the treatment of obesity for diet or weight control. That is why you need to show that WLS is medically nessesary, because it won't be approved for cosmetic reasons. It is sort of a catch 22. Insurance companies won't pay for diets, but they want you to show that you have tried them under a doctors care. Can you make a good case for WLS by focusing on your comorbidities and any other associated health risks? I provided a list of any diet I had ever tried, every exercise video I had ever used, every piece of exercise equipment I had ever bought or used, every health club membership I had purchased, every diet book I had ever read and used and finally, I made a statement about why I personally thought I should be approved for WLS. I do not know how much of this the surgeon submitted and I have not been approved yet. But, if any of it is helpful and gives you a couple of useful ideas, then I'm glad I mentioned it. Good luck.
   — Susan M.