Question

 So there is a possibility that in order for me to be approved for surgery i have to have some sort of letter from a gym or exercise program.  Has anyone had to do this and if you did what does the letter consist of and how long would i have to be a member before i would be approved for surgery.  I think this may be the only thing that might slow down the process for me.

I now have Aetna open choice ppo.

I have Aetna and they didn't require a letter from the gym...this seems strange.

I also have/had Aetna PPO. They required a sign off from the Exercise Physiologist----I met with the director of the gym (where I had been a member for a number of years). We had a discussion and she signed off on a form from the surgeon. I don't think it was an Aetna form but my surgeon's office (covering all the bases). She signed off that she thought I had a commitment to exercise and, from her perspective, was a good candidate for WLS.

Just as an FYI---my gym is a rehab center/gym connected to my hospital.

 Thanks for your help.  The nutritionist is the one who thinks i may need a letter but she wasn't sure.  I freaked out because i am not a gym person.  I walk.  I go to the park 2-3 times a week and walk between 2-3 miles.  So i dont know how that will play out with my surgery.  Thanks again.

Honestly, nutritionists (in my experience) don't know much about insurance other than what patients tell them, which they may or may not have heard correctly, fully understood, or have been given correct information.  I would ask the insurance coordinator at my surgeon's office or someone with my insurance directly before I would let something that a nut says about insurance worry me. 

Maybe yours is super knowledgeable about insurance requirements for surgery for some reason... but that's just my two cents :)

 you are right! She really couldn't explain exactly what i needed!

 I have BCBS/PA and this was a requirement (part of the medically supervised weight loss). My doctor's office gave me a form for the trainer to fill out. I don't have a copy of it, but he had written when we met, and what my plan was. That was it. I went to a Planet Fitness and met with the trainer. Funny thing is, that was 5 months ago and I'm there 3-4 times a week and haven't seen him since then. But anyway... if you already go to a gym, you could do that. Or ask your surgeon. The surgeon's office gave me a list of some exercise facilities that would do that letter/form for me - 3 month membership for $99 (I'll stick with my $10/month at PF, though). 

Good luck to you!

 Thanks! I left a message with the insurance dept. at my surgeons office.  Hopefully they will call me back soon so i can get this straightened out.  I dont want anything to slow me down. 

We have a gym nearby called retro fitness and they charge $20/month and no contract (which is the part i love)  i am gonna go monday anyway and check the place out with a friend.  She currently is a member and has a free pass.

Thanks for the info!

 I see you have 2 health trackers/widgets...

is one for you and another for someone else?

 I was not told that I had to have a letter from a gym/exercise program.  I don't do gyms.  I don't need people looking at me with snide remarks....

We have a Wii and I do Wii Sports and Smurf Dance Party.   My husband I walk, too.  I can ONLY do so much walking with shoes cause of how my left foot is.  the ligs and tends on ball of foot are bunched up and wearing any type of footwear for longer than 20 mins is agonizing.  The foot doctor said they can't do anything about my feet until I lose weight.