Advice Please

okay I finally have a insurance company who will cover my gastric bypass the problem is that they want a six month medically supervised diet I been going to my doctor since 2004 and all my nurse said was they need my weight recorded for six months not neccesarily losing weight on a medically supervised diet (whatever) but see how my weight is for six months , my question is, IS THERE ANYWAY TO GET PASS THE SUPERVISED DIET FOR SIX MONTHS AND STILL GET APPROVED. My doctor already wrote a recommendation stating my weight over the past five years. Now they want it in months Whew And I am not patient anymore I already waited a year for the insurance, waited a year to make the choice I am ready someone please help me. What I was going to do was have get the months my doctor did record and then just fill in the rest because believe it or not I already was recording my own weight myself because I was on a diet myself for six months so I know what I weighed for six months then I was just going to have my very cool and understanding doctor who strongly recommends I have this surgery sign it if he feels right to do so

I know the waiting sucks. My insurance did not require a diet but my surgeon did. Alot of insurance companies do require this. I was very upset at the obstacle but the six months did go fast. The insurance company will look for progress notes in your medical record taken during doctor visits so I don't think you can get around that. Good luck.

First I would go to all of your doctors visits' starting right now and get them to document your weight etc.

Secondly, like the previous poster...it will go fast.  My doctor gave me a 1200 diet off the internet. I lost maybe 2-5 lbs per month. She was happy with that and we (I) went on to surgery. lol. so the moral is...if you do "have" to do it, work on it now you may only have a few more mos. to go.


 

I had to fight Cigna for over 6 mos to get approved - I did every thing they asked and still had to jump through a few hoops - to what they say so that they have NO reason to deny you - the waiting sucks but you know what the reward is on the other end......

There is no way you can get out of it. IF you start now then once you get finish with your other appontment then you will be finish. I wish you best! I know how fustrating it can be.

Sorry to say but:
There is absolutley NO WAY to get around that! From an insurance prespective the reason for the supervised diet is two fold 1) To prove that before they spend upwards of 20k for a surgery you have tried to lose the weight without surgical intervention and 2) and the most important because it begins to build , if done correctly, the lifestyle changes that you will need to make for this journey. Recognizing your hunger cues, transferring your boredome or emotional eating to some other type of healthy activity, began a routine of physical activity.

Also, we require certain language be listed in the doctors notes to qualify so read your requirements carefully, discuss with your doctor, and make sure that he outlines it just the way the insurance company says otherwise they'll kick that month out and since its 6 months continuous if month3 gets kicked out months 1 and 2 don't count and you are having to do an additional 3 months of diet work!

My wl surgeon's office handled documenting my history because they knew just how to write it all up.  Perhaps with your medical records, the insrance dept at the surgeons office can assist your pcp with writing up your monthly weigh ins?  I've done this succesfully for other claims issues and I used to work in the insurance industry.  If your history is documented in their own language, you have the best chance of success with insurers.  

You will have to do the diet. The only way (that I know of) around it is asking for a peer to peer review. I tried and failed. My doc and the insurance company's docs chatted and I still had to finish up the diet.

Good luck!

Most companies want it to be consecutive months... I had to do 12, so yeah I feel ya... But in the end you'll be glad you gave it one more shot to do it without surgery.. This way you know for sure lol... But IMO and from what I've experienced no you can't get around it... but you never know... Give it a try to worst they could say is no..
Rea

guess i'm just going to have to hurry up a wait thanks everyone for being honest and supportive I appreciate it very much