I'm a State of Ga Employee and I have Cigna-HELP

Ok, I am not sure what is going on.  I recently read on here that you have to do the online coach thing for 8 weeks.  I also a have a phone appointment with some chick that is supposed to call me Monday.  How long has that going to last?

I talked with Cigna the other day.  The couldn't even tell me which online thing I had to do.  I spoke to at least 3 different people who didn't know.  And finally I chose the one about nutrition.  And I am not even sure how it works.  Do I just log on to the thing and it knows I'm there and is there anything I need to do, really?  I think the first thing was to have some goals written down.  How lame.  I have never jumped through so many hops in my life!  I only hope that it is worth it.

I have a list of things that someone from Cigna sent me in the mail that list the requirements for wls.  How does the supervised weight management thing work?  Does my primary care doctor have to fill out something?

All I have left to do is the pulmonary function test.  I have done the sleep study, cardiac clearance, diet/nutrition people, exercise physiologist...what else is there?  Will I be able have this surgery done this year???
Y'all are awesome.  I have learned more from this site than I have from anyone.  Thanks so much!
Lisa

You signed up for the wrong coaching thing...the "Healthy Steps to Weight Loss" is a 12 week program.  But as of last week, it's no longer a requirement because they are having major difficulty keeping the website working properly.

You will have to go to 6 monthly bariatric support group meetings instead.  Did you get a psych clearance?  You have to have 6 monthly visits with your PCP with documentation by him/her of diet, exercise, etc.  One of those visits will have to include cholesterol screening, and glucose.  You have to take the online (at cigna) health assessment tool questionaire (which will earn you $25 in your HRA account).

Okay guys...what else did I miss?

The 6 mos support meetings have to be with a surgeon at a center of excellence. Cigna is working on a list of approved support meetings. You can only use their approved meetings.

If you already started the online or phone coaching you don't have to do the support meetings.

 

Your primary doctor has to write a medical clearance.  If your primary doctor is doing your 6 mos diet, they'll also have to send that in.

 

The papers Cigna sent you in the mail are worthless, since they have changed the requirements as of 3-18-09.

 

Keep checking the board for updates. everybody has been really good about posting news as it comes in.

Why all the BS from Cigna?  Or is it from the State of GA?  Someone is supposed to call me on Monday for the phone thing.  How long does that take?  There is no way I could do 6 mos of support meetings at a center of excellence.  I live in Gray GA about 100 miles SE of Atlanta, and I don't think there is anyone, much letter a c of e, around here to do a support group.  I have never seen anything like this.

These requirements are the State of GA.  Our policy is a self-funded policy so they write the rules (so to speak).  And I have heard of some weird things that policys make people do to qualify for WLS.  The problem with Cigna and the SHBP is that the requirements weren't spelled out from the get-go. 

While UHC SHBP members have hoops to jump through, it seems that their hoops were spelled out at the beginning.  And they to have to attend 6 months of bariatric support group meetings.

It's from State of Ga and not Cigna.  The phone coaching can take from 1 to 11 sessions depending on what your coach reccommends. I was told tou only have to take 1 session to qualify for the surgery.   The online course takes 12 weeks, and there is no way to do it any faster. The limit you to one session per week.     (was told you no longer have to do the online thing, but I'm not sure if its the same for new people and the ones who already attempted it)

As far as the support group meetings, was told if you had already started the online or phone coaching, you will be exempt from this requirement.    If you can't get to a supoort group at a coe, call and file an administrative complaint w/ cigna customer service. You have to ask them to mark your call as an administrative complaint for it to go up the chain of command.

If you find another way to meet the support goup requirement w/out having to travel to a coe, please post it, as others are in the same position and can benefit from the info.