Cigna anyone?

I am under a  State Benefit Health Plan (Cigna)  I am on my way, I think, to have the LAP BANDprocedure.  I live in Augusta, GA. but because Cigna requires that the hospital and surgeons be certified as centers of excellence, I had to choose between  Columbia, SC or ATlanta and of course, Columbia is closer to me, so I chose to go to Columbia, SC. I had my seminar, first doctor visit, 6 months dr. supervised, psych eval done.  I am waiting to see the nutritionist and then, wait for the approval. Does anyone here have experience with Cigna that can give me some input on their politics, please?

Hello, I have Cigna. I will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

I have Cigna as well.  Any questions are welcomed.  There are a lot of us on here.  As far as politics, now that they've quit changing things daily (in all fairness to Cigna, it was really the sHBP that kept messing up) things seems to be moving along nicely at Cigna.  I submitted my paperwork and it was approved in less than 48 hours... faster for some others.

Thank you so much for your responses Themuck and Keek.  In January, I contacted a surgen in my hometown, Augusta, and they told me about the 6 months weight physicain supervised program.  IInmmediately I started this process.  Then they told me to contact Cigna to request a Case Manager, which I did. The Case mgr. was the one who told me that I was not able to use that specific surgeon since not his ofice nor the hospital were Centers of excellence.  They gave other options and I contacted one of the surgeons they reccomended.  Cigna even told me that the 6 months support group requirement was going to be waived for me since I started the process before this requirement was set.   I went to their seminar and then scheduled and went to the  1st surgeon visit and he said that b/c of my BMI and my sickness (high blood pressure, sleep apnea,breathing problems, joint problems, etc..) I do qualify. He sent me for a psych eval and I did.  Everything went fine.  He has said that after they receive the psych eval.  they will contact me w/ the nutrionist appoint. and after that he said that his office will submit the papers to theinsurance for approval. This seems too easy for me to believe.  Is it that simple? I thought I had to do a whole world of paperworks,years of trying to loose weight, etc..Is that all, for real? 

Is that all, for real?.. I felt like that.. and I guess I still do.. my surgery date is 10 days away and I'm still kind of in shock I guess.. It's all too sureal.. people keep asking me am I nervous, and I tell them not really.. I'm just ready for the surgery to be over so I can start the rest of my life.

Iam so glad that you told me it is for real.  It just seems so easy.  So, if your BMI qualifies you along qith weight related diseases and all the evals come out fine, this should be an approval, right?  I am so ready to start loosing weight and changING my life...go back to be the persona I was 12 years ago.  Thank you everyone here for your support and answering my questions.  I know that I might sound anxious, but I AM ANXIOUS!

I am a Cigna chick, too. There are lots of us here that started the process back in the fall and kind of went through the hassles while they were gettting their act together. It seems to be working a little more smoothly now for those who are getting into it. Talk Soup SLP is really our SHBP trailblazer who kept on them and even sued them to get this covered.

Ask away and good luck!

I have Cigna shbp too. We have a list of all the shbp members posted. PM any of us. I will add you to the list.

Hey, I have Cigna Ga SHBP too.  I have learned SO MUCH from these ladies on this site.  They are wonderful.  If they don't know it, they'll tell you who to talk to in order to find out what you need.  If I have questions, this is where I come.  Good luck in your journey!!

sO, HAVE THEY APPROVED YOU ALREADY?  hOW LONG DID IT TAKE?