Cigna

Hi, everyone. I had a heck of a time with BCBS of Illinois (yes, I worked in NH) and ended up losing my job over my legal battle. I have just found a new job...starting this week with Cigna for insurance. It seems there are no postings regarding Cigna. I have heard horrible things that they are no longer covering. My policy says that it is excluded unless you fall under the definition of the Heart lung and blood's definition of clinically obese which I do. But I was hoping for some feedback. Thanks in advance!

Karen Which Cigna? Who's your employer? I know from people at DHMC that State of NH & State of VT employees that have Cigna have to fight for approval. I've got a friend that has it thru the State of NH. She had to do 6 months of supervised visits for weightloss withing the last 12 months (I think). She was denied the first time, then on appeal, approved. She had her surgery on 5/2 and is doing great. Good luck Karen

Did she try to get approval this year? They changed as of January 1st, 2005. I am hearing from the surgeon's office that no one can get approved unless your company buys a specific rider and even then it is hard. I am starting work for UNH tomorrow. I guess I can try, right?

Greetings, I work for the University System of New Hampshire, Granite State College. Your HR office should have specific documentation regarding what is and is not covered by the policy. For USNH full time employees, you are required to have pre-approval before surgery. You must be severely morbidly obese and there are some additional co-morbidity issues to take into consideration as well. You can find specifics about USNH Medical coverage at the following link http://www.usnhhr.unh.edu/benefits/2005-oe-materials/index.html Anne

Hi All, I also have Cigna, according to them, as long as I have dotted all the I's and crossed all the T's I should have no problem. I have a BMI of 46.9, I am going to the Catholic Medical Center Obesity Clinic. I have had all the tests, gone through the 6 months of nutritional counseling that they require and according to my first visit had to lose 28 pounds, have only lost 7......(if weight was so easy for me to lose, I wouldn't need this) so now I am in limbo, still seeing ARNP once a month until I lose weight and come October, i'm going to need a new Psych Eval....god I just feel like giving up.....I had started this last year in July, went until October, chickened out, I had myself convinced that I could lose with the hubby's help, well after gaining about 15 pounds, went back, now I have my head on straight, and I have this new stumbling block..... Sorry I got off track, about the Cigna, I am a disability retired state employee and Cigna told me the counceling for 6 months, the reasons for operations and as long as all the tests were ok it should be alright. So anyway now we'll see what happens.... Diane