I was diagnosed w/type II diabetes on Aug 24 ... does diabetic ed count as dietary counseling towards the Aetna presurgery requirement? 

thanks!

 OMG!!!!! I am sooooooooooo excited... after being DENIED on August 16th, 2010, my Primary Care Physician signed off on a letter that I got from an Obesity help member named NAN.  My APPEAL was sent in on Monday August 30th, and my surgeon called me today and said "THAT MUST HAVE BEEN ONE HELLUVA LETTER, BECAUSE CIGNA HAS APPROVED YOU FOR WHATEVER WLS OF YOUR CHOICE!!!   I go in on Sept. 14, 2010 for blood work, to see which surgery will be best for me, I am looking into Lap-band, or the  VSG. Thank you all, for your concerns, and helping me get through this thing with fighting with the Insurance Company!!!! I will update you all on a tentative surgery date soon!!!!   GOD IS WALKING RIGHT BESIDE ME ON THIS JOURNEY, IF I MAY FALL, HE WILL BE RIGHT THERE TO LIFT ME.   

 @mistyshadows:  you know, the thing that really frustrates me is that one surgeon's office told me that my insurance company requires a BMI>40 for a minimum of 5 years. The other surgeon's office told me that they don't. 

They really don't make this easy, do they?

 Cigna told me I had to do a 3 month diet plan, whi*****ludes seeing my PCP, a nutritionist, and join an exercise program.  I guess my official "start date" would be Aug. 5, that's when I saw my doctor, and joined a gym.  I'm hoping after I complete this they will approve.  The surgeon's office seems to think everything will go through, I hope they are right.

Good luck on your journey, keep me updated.  

Hi Nan-I appreciate your post. I am still waiting. Called the lady that works in insurance for the surgeon yesterday and she said it's still in appeals. Once Aetna denied it-I got a letter weeks later saying that it has went to my husband's company who the insurance goes thru. So, that was the first week of August.

I am told that the medical reviewer I got for my aproval/denial denies practically everything. So, when they seen that is who was reviewing my case they kinda knew it was already a denial. So, I did write a 2 page letter and sent it to the address I was given to who is looking over my case now. So frustrating-I started this process in March. I have everything documented 110% and did the steps to a T.

I am hoping it pays off with a approval. And soon! This is taking up alot of brain space right now for me!

Thanks for your reply,
Angie