ATTENTION: BCBS IL (and others) have eliminated their 6 month pre-op program!!!!!!!!!

I'm so just so EXCITED that I had to share the good news! I've only completed 3 months and the bariatric program manager called today and told me to cancel the rest and that I am DONE! He's going to submit my info on Feb. 1st! The Lord is good!!!!

If anyone has HCSC as their parent provider and currently going through the 6 month program, make sure you check to see if it applies to you as well!

That's great for everyone that gets to get their surgery sooner but the reason those were put in place was because people NEED to be educated beforehand instead of rushing into surgery. It also shows commitment and dedication to the process. I'm kind of sad when I hear programs taking that kind of stuff away. It makes me worry for the people getting surgery because I fear that they are going to be less prepared in so many ways and that can lead to higher failure rates. It's such a huge decision in so many ways. I am very thankful for my 6 month program even though I hated it and I felt that it was tedious at the time. On top of that, that 6 months (actually it was 2 years for me!) gave me time to reflect on myself and why I was making the decision to have surgery and if it was really the right thing for me.

I dont see any problem with it. My 6 months didnt educate me at all. I went to my PCP and she just asked me what I was doing. Definately seemed like a waste of a co-pay every month.

That is good news for those that want to just get the process over with, I sure do. I did the 6 month supervised because I thought I had to ,turns out I did not need it. I don't feel I learned anymore  there than I learned here or at support group meetings. Truth be told, I think I have learned more here.

Did you guys have your surgeries yet?

Edit: I'm not sure what your program consisted of but we had to see a physician regularly, take weekly educational classes, monthly seminars, support groups, etc.

I have not had surgery yet. Mine was pretty much weighing in once a month, talking about calories and exercise. Nothing that I did not already know and have not already tried. It sounds like you attened real classes, mine was not like that at all.

Oh yeah... well then I guess some programs should develop a point then. I think they are pretty important when it comes to success. Preparation is just as important as all of the other steps. I didn't feel that my program benefited me until a few weeks before surgery and especially after I had the surgery. It helped me prepare mentally. If I had a program like yours I would have probably felt it was pointless too though. Nevertheless, the 6 months does allow you time to reflect and do your own research and prepare for yourself if you aren't getting the information from your program. Imagine if there was only a month from the time someone decided they wanted surgery to the time they were on the table. That would be a disaster. I wonder if that's what's going to be happening... eek!

I sure hope not, I would hope the person looking for WLS would do their own research. I have been thinking about this and researching for the last 10 years. I finally decided to do it after my ortho recommended it back in March of last year. I have been on the boards daily since I joined, I have read everything I could and can get my hands on.

I feel I got more from the support group meetings and this board than I did from my 6 month supervised diet. Now, I will say, that my 6 months was not done through my surgeons office. It was done on my own by a dietitian that was recommended to me, because I was trying to get ahead of the game. I thought I would need it for UHC, but my job pulled a switch-a- roo and we now have Anthem BCBS and we don't need it.

I had 4 months supervised with dietician and md. All I did was weigh in and talk about what I ate. Definitely as previous poster stated a waste of a copay. Mine was through my surgeon's office.

I also feel like the previous poster that it is a waste of co pay mine does the same thing talk about diet and exercise and does not tell me anything I don't already know.  But I only have one month left to complete the 6 months.  My friend had rny and her insurance did the same she hit 3 months and found out they changed from 6 months to three so its good to keep checking in with your insurance to see if anything has changed.  Thanks for the info. :)