does anyone here have bcbs highmark and had the gastric sleeve done? i know they cover the rny and lap band but not sure about the sleeve. cant find my benefits booklet and they dont have one online. thanks

8 calendar days.  My surgical coordinator called them daily.  It takes a day for the faxed information to be logged and get to the nurse.  In my case, the nurse then had it for 4 business days for some reason, and then it was referred to physician review.  The physician signed off on it within 2 hours of picking it up the next day.  My case was flagged for physician review because it's the RNY, and my BMI is between 35 and 40 with comorbidities.

Good Job.

My info was sent up to them (FEPBLUE) today.  How long did you have to wait to hear approval?

I'm APPROVED!  

First submission with BCBS Federal.   BMI > 35 with hypertension, mild apnea and a host of other comorbids that aren't in the bariatric trinity (Diabetes,hypertension,apnea).

I just want to say.. UP YOURS NALC!!!! (they denied me last year, would not forward my file to Cigna,  and would not look at my clnicals  quote on the phone.. .. "you're just taking blood pressure medicine").  I did get a sleep study after their denial to confirm mild apnea as NALC complained ... "you just have snoring.."

My advice to federal employees seeking this surgery with a BMI < 40.. stay away from FEHB insurance plans that have a middleman between the company and their underwriting insurance.. you will only wind up with two layers of bureaucracy to slog through to get approved.