CAN I HAVE SOME ADVICE

HI!! EVERYONE I HAVE SOMETHING THAT I NEED SOME ADVICE ON. I HAVE COMPLETED MY 6 MONTH REGULATED DIET WITH MY PCP AND EVERYTHING THAT HEALTH ALLIANCE HAS REQUIRED ME TO DO BEFORE BEING CLEARED FOR WLS SURGERY. I AM GETTING DEPRESSED BECAUSE I FEEL THAT I AM GETTING A RUN AROUND. ANYBODY OUT THERE THAT HAS HAD HEALTH ALLIANCE HMO? AND ALSO WOULD ANYBODY WRITE THE INSURANCE CO A LETTER AND IF SO HOW WOULD I DO THAT? SORRY I HAVE SO MANY QEUSTIONS, BUT I NEED TO SEE SOME LIGHT AT THE END OF THIS TUNNEL. THANKS NANETTE

Hi, Nanette..........I'm in De Soto, just down the road. I do not have Health Alliance, but when I needed help with my insurance, I went to my physician. Docs are the ones who can advocate for the medical necessity of wls and that's what the insurance companies want to hear. At one point, I called my insurance company and said "exactly what do you need" and then I wrote down everything the person said. This was after my wls when I was trying to get something else paid, but it helped to know exactly what they were looking for. Your PCP should be able to help you and I wouldn't be shy. This is going to be the best fight you ever fought in your life! I'm almost 2 years out and have not felt this good since I was in my 30s (I'm 60 now!) Keep fighting......................Judy

Hey Nanette, I have Health Alliance PPO and they do require the 6 mos and I wrote a letter to my pcp and then he wrote a letter to Health Allaince and I was approved within 2 days. I am just waiting for my secondary insurance to be approved, but last I heard, the surgeon's nurse still hadn't sent the request to them for approval even though my pcp did. I am probably calling them to much at the surgeon's office (twice a week), but I don't want them to leave me hanging. I have to give my work 30 days notice and I have to be able to schedule my pre op appointments ahead of time too. My surgeon is an hour away. Best of luck to you and any time you need to talk and feel down, send me an email. My address is [email protected] Cindy Lou Who

Dear Nanette: I do not have the same insirance as you, I have Unicare (AHC). I am waiting right now to hear if I am worthy of this surgery in their eyes, but I did include a personal letter with the packet that the surgeon's office sent last Friday. Since I haven't heard anything yet, I don't know if the letter helped or not. I could send you a copy if you are interested, just email me. [email protected]