Getting Started

For everyone that has started this journey, should I first get a referral from my regular doctor, or should I just make a consultation with the weight loss doctor?

You'll need to go to one of the free seminars from the WL Dr. AFAIK they all require this seminar before they'll make an appointment for you. We actually filled out insurance papers and while we were in the seminar they had cleared our elegibility. It wasn't until the pre-op testing started that I needed a letter of referral from my PCP.

Some Dr.s may be different. I went to 3-4 seminars from different Drs. before I found one I really liked.

Thanks!

I just didn't know if I needed to see my regular doctor before I scheduled one of those seminars. The last time I saw him, he even mentioned that WLS was my next step. I just don't really know where to begin.

I did the consultation with my surgeon before I got the referral letter from my PCP. It's really only needed, I think, for insurance purposes. 

Glad to see you here and posting.  Keep in touch and us posted on how things go, and if you have any questions, make sure that you come back and post.  We'll pop in and answer as best we can. 

Good Luck
Mari

I checked with my insurance first. I have BCBS and my plan only allowed 15 different centers. Since I went to one of there centers I was preauthorized to continue with the rest of the preop stuff.
 

I had a one-on-one consult with my doctor-no seminar.  Also I didn't need a letter from my PCP.  My co-morbidities were enough for my insurance (UHC).

I didn't have a PCP so I got my referral from my OB-GYN who didn't have a clue about WLS, but was happy to support me and refer me.  I had my letter I attended the seminar because I knew I would need it after checking my insurance requirements (BCBS) and I was due for my annual well-woman checkup anyway.

You don't need it to see a WLS surgeon or go to a seminar - it's the insurance company who needs it once you have everything read to submit.  Which sometimes takes time, so be prepared to be patient with the process.  This isn't like having an MRI done on your shoulder and the doc scheduling you for surgery right away.  There is usually a nutrition class to go to and the psych evaluation.

Each insurance comapny is different with what they require. My insurance plan I did not need a referral to see any specialist.  My first step was to find out what my insurance covered and then I researched surgeons. I then attended the seminars which are all basically the same, but some cover more information than others. My insurance plan I had to be diagnosed as morbid obese but I had a couple of co-morbidities. I went to 3 different surgeons before finding one that I liked and whose office knew how to handle the insurance paperwork correctly because it only takes a minor mistake to deny your request. 27 days later I had my Gastric bypass surgery. Now, my PCP did not really care one way or another about me having weightloss surgery or offere any real help so I recently changed PCPs. Remember you are talking about your health and need to be comfortable with the surgeon you choose, and support staff. Because I had trouble getting a hold of the dietician at the facility I had my surgery I went and found a nutritionist to work with me on meeting my goals. I wish you the best of luck on your journey.

Shannon it depends what your insurance requires.  Call your insurance or check your policy first.  I didn't need a consult to see a surgeon, BUT I ended up with a full-clad exclusion with no way around it so I had to self-pay.

My surgeon did require a letter from my PCP that I was healthy enough for surgery even with co-morbidities.

I have BCBS Texas, so I suppose like most of you suggested, call them tomorrow and ask what their guidelines are? I did get a call today while I was at work from a center in Austin, saying that they noticed I was looking for more infomation, and if I had any questions at all, or just wanted to schedule a consult to call them back. How many of you did this outside of the town you live in?