Hello Suzanne,
 
I see that you had your surgery with Dr. Aceves in Mx. How was your experience? I am really considering it, but i keep getting the run around about the cost. Did you happen to go through beliteweight, or did you pay upfront?

 Hi everyone! So, my surgery is in 8 days, and as I'm looking around the site, I am noticing that there are lots of people who had to get Insurance Approval Letters and stuff........My question is this:

When I was scheduled for my surgery date, no one in the office mentioned anything to me about insurance. I got my date the same day I had my second consult. I am going to call tomorrow and make sure my insurance is all okay, but, I'm curious to all the BCBS'ers, did you guys need to wait for a letter? or did it just happen like mine?

My mom said that when she had hers (7 years ago) she didn't have to wait for a letter either...and she also mentioned that if there was a problem or if insurance wasn't covering it, they would have asked me how I was financing the procedure when they gave me the date....

I already have enough on my plate to stress out over, so, this is NOT something I'd like to add to it. anyone have any input on the matter?

Thanks!

 FEP 2011 Definition of Morbid Obesity:
A condition in which an individual has a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more, or an individual with a BMI of 35 or more with co-morbidities who has failed conservative treatment; eligible members must be age 18 or over.

Benefits for the surgical treatment of morbid obesity, performed on an inpatient or outpatient basis, are subject to the following pre-surgical requirements.
The following requirements apply to gastric restrictive procedures, gastric malabsorptive procedures, and combination restrictive and malabsorptive procedures to treat morbid obesity:

• Diagnosis of morbid obesity for a period of 2 years prior to surgery.
• Participation in a medically supervised weight loss program, including nutritional counseling, for at least 3 months prior to the date of surgery.
• Pre-operative nutritional assessment and nutritional counseling about pre- and post-operative nutrition, eating, and exercise.
• Evidence that attempts at weight loss in the 1 year period prior to surgery have been ineffective.
• Psychological assessment of the member's ability to understand and adhere to the pre- and post-operative program, performed by a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, psychiatric social worker, or psychiatric nurse.
• Patient has not smoked in the 6 months prior to surgery.
• Patient has not been treated for substance abuse for 1 year prior to surgery.

I am currently  starting the process for wls.. this is fed bcbs required goals. My BMI is 53,
my only concern is:the evidance of weight loss in the year prior being ineffective part... I have dieted and tried  but on my own.. I keep meeting that brick wall..lol... So how do I prove it if I have been doing it on my own?

I do My consult with surgeon this week...Have started my 3 month with my pcp.... )

Hi Jen,

Congratulations to you.  What great news.  I will you great success.

If you have any question, I am more than willing to help you with anything.  I had the sleeve 2 1/2 years ago and lost 105 pounds.  I have maintained it for 1  1/2 years.  It is the best thing I have ever done for my self. Have you picked your doctor yet?

Take care,

Hi,

I had all these same questions.  So for me finding the best doctor to do my surgery was my first challenge.  I wanted someone who had skills and some statics.  I found that Dr. Aceves was the person who was going to do my surgery.  If you have any kind of complication while you are in his care they will take care of everything.  They test you new stomach 2 times before you go home to make sure that everything is working correctly and that you have NO leaks.  He would NEVER send you home unless he was very confident that you are in good health and able to travel.  He is located in Mexicali, Mexico--a very safe boarder to cross by the way.  He is rated in the top 5 doctors in the world who do weight loss surgery.  You will NEVER find a doctor in the US who will provide the kind of care you get from Dr. Aceves.

As for when you go home, your insurance will pay for anything that might need after the surgery as long as your primary care doctor orders it.  Before I went to Mexicali, I took all my research and information into my primary care doctor and discussed what I was going to do.  She said give me a week to read all this information and come back.  When I came back she was all smiles and said this was the right doctor for me, and to go for it.  She said when you get home come and see me two weeks after you are home.  She ordered a full blood panel for me to check all my levels.  Then after that I went in once a month to have her monitor things.  As time went on, she started taking me off so many of my meds.  So I suggest that you talk with your primany care doctor and they won't support your efforts to become healthy, I would find a doctor who is there to support and help you.

I was sleeved in Oct 2008 at age 63.  I lost 105 pounds in 14 months and 2 1/2 years later I have maintained my weight loss. 

I am healthy and feel like I added 20 years on to my life.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

Hugs and take care