got my date!! but might have to settle for the band :(

I agree with all the others appeal, appeal, and keep appealing till you get what you want. I have a band and I lost all of 20 lbs with it! Hardly worth going under for, I seriously would stay fat rather than live life with a band. Band life is ugly at best and at worst does nothing for your weight. Save yourself the anguish either get the sleeve or stay where you are but don't for any reason suffer with the band! I agree with Ms Shell I think it's your doc not the ins. Maybe he isn't using the right code or something because if the ins. has OK'd it then there is no reaon why they wouldn't OK it for you.. Time to start questioning, you can call your insurance and see what they say, then start questioning the surgeon.

maybe it is something with the doctors. My dr. has done many sleeve procedures, it's my insurance (MVP) that just started accepting it. They have only had 3 other MVP patients who wanted the sleeve. all of which were denied. I'm the only one who has a good reason to not do the bypass. So i'm praying that's my ticket!! lol we will see!!! :) fingers are crossed! But i fully intend on appealing if that's the case, thanks so much for your thoughts!!!

Don't settle for it. Wait. It will get approved eventually. The band will give you more problems and you'll end up getting a revision anyway. That was my opinion anyway before I had my surgery.

I had an insurance issue before surgery and they had approved RNY and the surgery was set for like 2 weeks away when I found out. I was really upset because I didn't know it wasn't the sleeve. They told me the paperwork probably wouldn't go through and I'd either have to do the RNY or reschedule. Due to my job I wouldn't be able to reschedule for another 9+ months  so to me it was "now or never." My boyfriend at the time really put it in perspective for me telling me that it was a life decision and that it wasn't something small. He said that even waiting 9 months or a year or even 2 years is NOTHING compared to making the RIGHT decision. He kept stressing the consequences of making the wrong decision and how could ruin those 9 months, 1 year, 2 years.... and forever, that we didn't want to be patient for. We each know what the right decision is and if you KNOW that the lap band isn't for you, DON'T do it just because you feel like there isn't another option. It may end up being the worst decision of your life. You have to think about the permanence of the decision. Even though the lap band is "reversible" it can do a lot of damage to your insides and there can be permanent complications so don't look at it as "well I'll just take it out if I don't like it."

Do not under any cir****tance settle for the band.

Here's the reasons why:

1) Bands have the highest removal, revision, reoperation rate. 1 in 4 will need a reoperation within 3 years.

2) What if your insurance goes away, lose the insurance, what if your insurance company slaps a "once in a lifetime WLS procedure" clause in the policy then you're stuck with astronomical medical bills because it has to come out on an emergency basis.

3) Well, the band sucks. There's no way around it. Complications, food intolerances, and everything else that comes with banded life is NOT worth it.

Appeal, and make sure your office staff is coding it correctly with the insurance company. Your surgeon can also submit a peer review and letter of medical necessity. There's no reason to settle.