Insurance Question

So I am looking at changing jobs and leaving State government.  I have been offered a position but the things holding me back are the insurance.  I would really like to be able to go to Dr. Cacucci and have it covered, esp. if I have a complication of some sort *knock on wood I don't ever have one!* Has anyone switched insurances since surgery?  Has anyone had any dealings with Cigna?  Could my surgery be considered a pre-exisiting condition and I not be covered?  I am going to contact Dr. C's office today and see if I can't get some guidance.  Everything about this job would be great but the insurance is what's holding me back.   Any ideas?  Sam

We're  kind of in the same boat. Hubby wants to change jobs horribly but we're worried about this. I was told if their policy excludes weight loss surgery then they don't have to pay for complications or what not. However if they do pay for WLS and you don't have a lapse in insurance for more then 30-60 days (I am not sure on this I was told 30 days then 42 days then 60 days by different people) by either chosing to pay for Cobra coverage or have immediate coverage then they shouldn't be able to consider your WLS a pre existing condition. I may be wrong about this but this is what I was told. You would have to call Cigna and find out or whatever I think.

Glad to know I'm not the same on in this boat Misty!  After posting here I called Cigna and explained my situation.  The guy I talked to was very helpful.  I explained my situation and what coverage the new company has.  He said that office visits and internal complications would be covered.  He did make a point to say plastics or skin removal is not.  Thanks goodness I don't have too much of that or at least enough to be a problem healthwise.  He also checked and Dr. Cacucci is contracted.  I have a call in to Amy at Dr. C's office to see what she says.

Oh the choices...ugh!

 Sam

Sam, I have Cigna insurance and love it.  I know Dr. Cacucci is covered under our plan.  We have Cigna Open Access.  If you have continuous insurance coverage it won't be considered pre-existing.  If it means you need to do a cobra plan until your other insurance kicks in, by all means do it!  If there is a break in your coverage it will be considered pre-existing.  We had to ask all these questions last year after my husband blew the ligaments in his knee and had to have surgery.  Our insurance changed in January and he was still in physical therapy.  The information I told you was what we were told.  Fortunately, our insurance change was due to his company being bought out by another so there wasn't a break in our coverage.  That point was stressed to us though so I want to make sure you understand it too.  I know the cobra plans cost a ton but it will be worth it to keep your procedures off the pre-existing list.   Hope this helps! Jacqui

Thanks Jacqui!  This is Cigna Open Access Plus.  The insurance doesn't take effect till 3 months so I would have to do Cobra for that long.  Do you have the deductible?  I worry because $1000 is a lot for me and my blood work alone at my annual check with with Dr. C was $1400 or so. Glad to know you like it!

We each have a $500 deductible but we also have a $2000 max out of pocket which is nice this year because we've met most of it with Troy's stuff.  Our's is open access plus too.  The best thing with this is that I've been assigned a nurse through Cigna.  Her name is Barbara and she's my little angel.  She finds all of my info out for me and let's me know the answer to any questions I have.  She's been great through this whole weight loss surgery thing.  I guess they cover a lot of these because she knows her stuff!  She called yesterday to make sure I had all of my vitamins and supplements for after surgery.  What a doll!  She has an 800 number so I can call anytime and it doesn't cost anything. I hope you are as pleased with Cigna as I am! Jacqui

Ya the only thing keeping my hubby at his job right now is the insurance. He hates it and I hate that hes soo miserable but hes gotta find a job somewhere that has medical coverage other then a HSA and that will cover my follow ups and all with Dr C.

Pre existing is based on the diagnosis. Generally obestiy is not considered pre existing. Also, if you did not take the cobra generenly you would be fine as long as there is not more that a 63 day break in coverege from old insurance to new.

Thanks for the heads up on the 63 days!  It would be about 90 between insurances so I will have to do the cobra.  

Insurance issues aside...where & what's the new job? Congratulations on climbing out of the hole that is state employment.