Dr. Benjamin Hung and BCBS

I am so disappointed. I called Dr. Hungs's office to get an appt. for a consult and when they found out there was an exclusion for wls or any kind of weight lose treatment and that self-pay was not an option, they said sorry we can't help you. I thought they would at least do a consult and try to get my ins. to cover it.

I am not sure what BC/BS plan you have but there is another wonderful doctor in Omaha. Dr. Gary Anthone. His specialty is the BPD/DS but he also does the RNY. He is located in the physicians building and works out of the Methodist hospital. His number is 402-354-1320. He doesn't have a waiting list either. I have BC/BS of Iowa (HMO) and he has been great in helping try to get approval. Hope this information helps. It's worth a call to his office. His staff is very pleasant to work with as well. Linn Appeal #1

I understand, I have been calling all kinds of insurance companys, BC/BS will NO LONGER cover the surgery.. As of 1/01/04 Insurance companys have cut there aprroval way down.. I am going threw hell and back, so i have to go threw CHIP to get approved!! sorry but good luck.. Chasity

I have BC/BS of Nebraska and was approved within less than one week. I had surgery on March 2nd, 2004. Dr. Hung is my doctor and his office took care of everything for me. His office is great. I do remember that they had called my Insurance company to make sure that it was a covered benefit though. If it is not then you will have to talk to your employer, as they decide what benefits you have for group Insurance.

Did you have an excluscion for wls on your policy? My BCBS is with UNL and there is an exclusion. I haven't even seen a surgeon for this and have received 2 denials. I have one appeal left.

No I did not have an exclusion in my insurance, however at the time of my surgery I was told that the surgery was covered because my employer had not excluded it from our policy. So if it is excluded then your employer excluded it. Mine was through a county policy, and was a covered benefit through July 1, 2004 when the county re-evaluates the coverages that they have.

Hi Linda...I too have BCBS with UNL..and just so you know that I started my process in October and got approved in mid-November. I then got a letter shortly after the UNL renewal time that said that I was approved as long as I had the surgery by 12/31/03 even though my original approval said I had 6 months. When I called BCBS, it is UNL that said that they will not allow this on our policy anymore. It is up to the employer so Dr. Hung did everything to get me (and many other BCBS, not UNL) to get them their surgery before 12/31/03. I am happy to say that I did get my surgery on 12/30/03, but now I am having difficulty with the ins. company to pay any of my follow up appointments. Dr. Hung is a good surgeon and I would recommend him to anyone, but his office, unfortunately, has policies like everyone else. I think the persons' to blame here our the insurance companies and the employers not the doctors. Chris Edwards Open RNY 12/30/03 354/294/????