[deb5217]

Anyone else get approved with a bmi below 40? Mine is 38.

[judijo]

With co-morbidities...high blood pressure, high blood sugar (diabetes), high cholesterol, sleep apnea etc.

Of course, your insurance co may be different. This is general guideline.

[MsVickie]

I think I saw a couple post in here about that. They had really bad health to begin with so they didnt have to have the BMI over 40. I will tell you like anyone else honey. Call your insurance company. Ask them the guidelines for this surgery and what criteria you have to meet to get it approved. That will save you alot of headache when approaching them with it. Reaseach the surgery until you cant go no more. Take care.

[angelmolly20]

i think mine was 38 or 39

[myfoursonswa]

When I was approved for my lap band, I had previously been teetering between 39 and 40. I asked the nurse about my weight because I was nervous that I would get turned down if I didn't hit the 40 BMI. I also did not have any of the main comorbitities that help as qulaifiers. When I asked the nurse, she said, "Well, we don't know if when you come to weigh in if you may be carrying several rolls of quarters in your pocket." Then she kind of winked at me. I don't know if she was telling me to somewhat alter my weight by the clothing I wore to weigh in or what, but it sure did sound like it. I ended up gaining a little weight in the process anyways, so I didn't have to worry about it in the end.

[danacain]

I was approved at 38 because my A1C was high....when I had the surgery I was at 42 though...

[ksmoss]

I have Blue Cross and they required 2 or 3 co-morbidities if your BMI wasn't 40 or above. Sadly or happily depending how you look at it, I weighed enough that any of my other problems were just icing on the cake to get them to approve the surgery. Each insurance has specific guide lines they follow for approval. Call them and ask what the exact requirements are so you know what they are looking for. When I called my insurance they were really helpful. I think it was because one of the ladies in the department had already had gastric bypass surgery. Good luck

[deb5217]

I picked up the letter my pcp wrote today and they faxed it to my insurance co. Now is just waiting. I called the insurance today and they said it takes 3 days. Hopfully I will know by the end of the week. I am very nervous that I won't be approved. My doctor listed my bmi at 39 so we'll see. He listed my last 30 yrs of weight battles so I'm hoping that has some impact on their decision. Thanks for listening. Deb

[MsVickie]

Its almost sad if that is the only thing that stopped you from having this life saving surgery done. I like the rolls of quarter thing myself. When I bring patients back to weigh them they take everything off winter or summer. Trust me bras and underwear would come off if they had the chance LOL. We all know how that is. I will say this however I used to not worry about that. But now I make sure I take my shoes off and my pockets are empty and think about what I wear to the Dr.

[myfoursonswa]

That is so true. I remember when I had my official weigh in for my WLS application. It was the one and only time in my life that I wanted to weigh as much as possible just to make sure I wouldn't get denied. It was a strange feeling. But, when I went back following my surgery, I was always very aware of what I was wearing and wanted to see the lowest numbers possible each time.

Originally Posted by MsVickie

Its almost sad if that is the only thing that stopped you from having this life saving surgery done. I like the rolls of quarter thing myself. When I bring patients back to weigh them they take everything off winter or summer. Trust me bras and underwear would come off if they had the chance LOL. We all know how that is. I will say this however I used to not worry about that. But now I make sure I take my shoes off and my pockets are empty and think about what I wear to the Dr.