Insurance Question

 I've been looking at WLS as an option to get out of pain and to become a healthier version of me for a few months now. I started out by filling out this request for information form online for a local hospital. I got an call back with them suggest I wait until February to talk to a surgeon for my insurance has a pre-existing condition clause and that doesn't expire until February. 

So here - I am - I have been going through these boards and reading - getting every bit of information I can get...risks, etc.

I'm also going through my insurance policy and I caught something  - I want to be sure I'm reading this right. I have BCSC of Illinois - the policy says this:

2.  Evidence that comprehensive non-surgical treatment of morbid obesity has been attempted prior to surgical treatment of morbid obesity: 

• Documentation of active participation in a comprehensive, non-surgical program of weight reduction for at least six (6) months, occurring within the twenty-four (24) months prior to the proposed surgery.  
• NOTE: The initial BMI at the beginning of a weight reduction program will be used to meet the BMI criteria for the definition of morbid obesity used in this policy.
• A program will be considered appropriate if it includes ALL of the following components:
  1. Nutrition program, which may include a very low calorie diet or a recognized commercial diet-based weight loss program; AND
  2. Behavior modification or behavioral health interventions; AND
  3. Counseling and instruction on exercise and increased physical activity; AND
  4. Ongoing support for lifestyle changes to make and maintain appropriate choices that will reduce health risk factors and improve overall health; AND

Does this mean that they require the 6 month medically supervised program 24 months prior to surgrey? 

Its within 24 months prior to surgery. You may want to talk to your doctor to get started on that so by the end of February you will have about three months done.

I'm with BCBSIL, they do require the 6 month medically supervised diet but it doens't have to be consecutive... just at least 6 individual months within 24 months prior to surgery. You can email me @ mosweett @ gmail and I will send you everything my doc and I sent to the insurance company. I got approved in 9 days!