hey Board... Im sorry for trespassing... lol but I have a question... ARE  ANY OF YOU EMPLOYESS OF NOVANT HEALTHCARE???? AND IF SO, DO THEIR PLANS COVER WLS???? the ? seems odd... I know! But Novant just bought my SC company and is taking over 01/01/08... and our benefits are changing. Currently my bens have a WLS exclusion, but Im wondering if my new plan will have an exclusion as well.... PLEASE HELP!!! (IF U CAN)     THANK YOU!!!!

I dont have the answer... but your HR may be able to provide you with the group# and you can call the insurance and find out :-)

that "info" isnt available yet... its all hush hush....you know how BIG COMPANIES do things... lol

I am not sure if you have the same insurance as her, but my cousin works for Novant at Presbyterian and she has been approved for WLS.  You definately want to check in with HR or call the insurance company though.   Which hospital did they purchase in SC? Novant is one of my best clients at work.  We work with the foundations at Presbyterian and Forsyth Medical.  Very cool!  Best of luck to you!  Candice

some light in the tunnel.... WOO HOO!!! Right now, MY HR isnt talking. Just basically saying..."changes will roll out & u will have plenty of time to investigate".. which is a bunch of CORPORATE mumbo jumbo that basically means dont worry about it right now cause we arent gonna tell you anyways...  BUT... Novant purchased MedQuest and the merger isnt officially complete yet. Or so they have said. I only caught on to the bens change when I was asking my boss about purchasing STD insurance and she told me not to bother because everything was changing when Novant becomes official. So... I fished alittle about benefits and she said "things will be changing" WHICH IS IRRITATING.... BUT AT LEAST THERES A POSSIBILITY, WHICH IS MORE THAN I HAVE RIGHT NOW!!! CANDICE... THANKS SO MUCH!!!!

Off Topic:  Your Avatar is AWESOME!!!  Gets ya in the Season Mood...  Connie

If you are already going through the motions of having surgery.. wouldn't you have it done before they took over? 

 

 

I wish I could. But my company now has a WLS exclusion. so I have 3 choices: 1. self pay 2.  find a new job w/o an exclusion or 3. wait till Novant takes over and see what they have for benefits Im hoping its #3!!!!!

Have been with Novant for 17yrs.   WLS is covered.  My best advice is to contact whichever insurance company you choose (you will probably have more than one option) at the 1st of the year.   Find out which surgeons are in network and what type of  WLS does the plan cover.  Also you can get lots of info from the insurance company's web sites.   I think NCBCBS covers RNY and DS (with a greater than 50BMI).  Not sure about the band.  Once you find an in network dr.  (or out of network if covered and you don't mind spending the extra dollars) then call and find out how their bariatric centers work.  Most all require you to attend the informational seminar before actually making an appt. with them.  Message me with any questions you may have.  Robin