[girlcounselor]

I have a dilemma. I have Aetna PPO and it covers Gastric ByPass surgery. I have met all the requirements except for one and I'm curious to know if anyone has any suggestions on what I can do.

I need at least 2 years of weight history. For 2007, I had two weights taken. On one of them, I was at 179 and by June of that year I was up to 199. (I had lost a significant amount of weight through Weight Watchers two years before and was steadily gaining the weight back). I have no record after that of any weights as I didn't go to the doctor, but by the end of 2007 I was at around 235 lbs. That would make me meet the requirements in full, but I have no way of proving this. The surgeon's office doesn't seem to think it will be a problem because I have sleep apnea and my BMI is 42.

I am worried that I won't get approved due to this minor issue.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

I did break my ankle in July of 2007 and went to the urgicare and was probably weighed at that time and my weight was probably even higher at that point. Should I try to get a copy of my weight there to show that I was progressively gaining weight? I just really don't know what to do and this is causing me a great deal of anxiety because of all the hoops I am jumping through to get this thing approved. I've already have put out a lot of money with doctor visits and co-pays, etc.

Thank you for any advice you can offer.

[dixieladybug]

Hi yes you need to get a copy of any where you were weighed. I had to go back 5 years and show my wt ... I was one year short and happened to think of another dr. I went to and got them to fax me a copy and that was just what I needed. A lot of hoops to jump through but believe me it is so worth it. I would do it again if I had to. It is life saving. Good luck on your journey

[amina6ae]

HOOP jumping is one of the difficult parts of this journey..
Did you go to any other weight loss places like curves, jenny craig etc?? they would also have your weight..

I WILL also say it IS WELL worth the hoop jumping & headaches that insurances require..... Good luck with your journey.
BTW~~ welcome to a wonderful supporive site..

LOL,

[girlcounselor]

Thank you for the responses, but I didn't quite get my question answered. My main concern is that I don't have a weight higher than 100 lbs. overweight for the last two years recorded. I have 199 from 2007, and 262 from 2008. The 199 does NOT put me over the mark of what I need.

I don't mind jumping through the hoops, believe me. I know it would be worth it. I'm just afraid that I won't be approved because I don't have a weight proving I was at least 235 lbs by the end of 2007.

Please help!!!!!!!

[DocSanae]

Welcome to the board, thank you for joining us.
Good luck with the process.
(((((((HUGS))))))) May your journey go well.

Regarding records of your weight, do you have any photographs? Preferably one with dates, but even without.
If you have snap shots of the times when you can prove your weight, and for those where you were the highest even though you don't that any official weight record. With the pics between the known weights and now, you can at least show that you were progressively gaining weight.
I don't remember who, but there was someone a few years ago that did this, and it worked, at least in part.

[girlcounselor]

Thank you! I rifled through some old pictures and found one from 12/13/07 and it's dated with the camera automatic dating feature.

I hope that works!

Thanks for the welcome!

[MsVickie]

Get them all honey. The one where you broke your ankle will more than likely state how much you weighed at that time and how he thought you might progress as far as your weight was at that time. I agree any weight programs you went to diets you tried etc..... get them. Sleep Apena is a big issue now and Im sure in the records from them they have to state where your weight is a issue with that. So get what you can and go for it. Good Luck!

[Janice Carol]

Yes I totally can relate. I did not have the documentation needed for the 5 years previous surgery. But my surgeons office ask me if I had any dated photos of the years I did not have documentation for. And I did so I submitted them and a detailed letter as to why I thought the surgery would change my life. And believe me it was a tear jerker. I was approved less than one week after everything was submitted. My surgeons office told me that they had never seen my perticular insurance approve anyone so quick. But I also think God had a hand in that. I hope this gives you a few idea. Good Luck.

[judijo]

Time passes, and keep in mind in the worst case scenario, the time you are spending now counts toward that two years. I had to take 6 MONTHS of pre-bariatric surgery classes before my medical group allowed my referral to a surgeon, and that counted.

What is it worth for you to have the surgery? "Any lengths" sounds like what it is worth, yes? Get all the documentation you can muster up. Did you ever see an urgent care doctor, or go to an emergency room? They have weight records, usually, unless you were like me and refused to be weighed for 10 years. lol

[GinaGurl]

i had to prove that i tried to lose weight i went to weight watchers and i also did atkins and had sleep apena and als got diagnosied with diabetes so they approved me and its the best decision i made so just do what you have to and get approval i know insurance co are a horror but jump through the hoops good luck with your journey