Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska (Plus)

Has anyone had any experience with this insurance company? I've been reading the reviews, and some people have had no problems getting coverage, and others were denied... I haven't been able to find anything about WLS in the booklet I have. Is it excluded?

Any input would I hate waiting for them to call back!

Are you a State of alaska employee?  If so, look at pages 57 -58 of the booklet (pages 76 - 77 of the pdf document) online at  http://www.state.ak.us/drb/ghlb/select/s_bw.pdf Good luck!

I have that insurance.  I tried last year and they said NO weight loss surgeries are covered.    But maybe mine is written differently than yours.   Good luck!  And let me know if you got it so I can recheck and ask questions!

That's what they said when we called, but the policy says otherwise. It's not covered for weightloss, but can be covered if certain criteria is met. I found it online, but we'll see... I'll let you know what I find out!

Oh wow!  Please do let me know!!  Keeping my fingers crossed! Jeanee

I actually called your doctors office today .... Well, I was asking for Dr Bogojavlenski because we had discussed this a couple years ago.   How do you like Dr Searles??    I have not seen him yet.  Trying to find out who covers the cost ... then I will go in. Jeanee

I meet him tomorrow- I'll let you know. If you send me your email, I'll send you the information I found online about the coverage. It's in PDF form. I' m not sure though; if it's the employers that are making the exemption, and not the insurance?  Like, depending on the policy (the agreed coverage between employer and the insurance company) that's trying to exclude it, but I'm going to try and find out!

[email protected]      THANKS SO MUCH!!!!

I have Premera BC BS and it will cover 25,000 for the surgery.  However, I'm a diabetic (almost 10 years on 40-50 units of insulin a day), high blood pressure, and high cholestrol.  I visited my doctor and Nutritionist once a month for 6 LONG months.  PLUS, my surgeon had me do a chest x-ray, ultrasound of my liver, (they looked at my kidneys and pancreas while they were lookin') and an upper GI barium swallow test as well.  I also visited a Psych and did a sleep study.  I have sleep apnea and just the CPAP machine is GREAT, I can get a good night's sleep in only 5-6 hours rather than 10 hours plus now. I was approved rather quickly when all the testing was done.   I'm scheduled for surgery Aug 7th and can't WAIT!!  GOOD LUCK!!

I work as an insurance rep specializing in processing BCBS claims.  My suggestion to you would be to call and get a CPT CODE for the procedure you want to have done, then contact BCBS and ask them to do a PRE-DETERMINATION of benefits.  That will allow them to do a "dummy claim" and get a better idea of what your actual benefits are.   Don't ask for a PRECERT, make sure it is a PRE-DETERMINATION. Good luck. Lori