Empire Plan insurance question?

Hi Everyone,

I am new to this forum and do not have a date yet for RNY. I have the Empire Plan insurance (for NYS employees) which requires a 6 month monitoring period before approving WLS. I am in month 4 of the 6 months and am getting really antsy. I was wondering if anyone in NY has this insurace company and what your experience with them has been?

Also, I was wondering if there are any support groups or get togethers in the NYC area? I would love to talk with others going through/have gone through this process.

Thanks and good luck to all

Hey there. Unfortunately, I do not have any info as I too have empire-government plan, under  united healthcare. Not sure what part of ny you are in, but if you are in westchester or nyc area, can you share about what doctor you have selected? I have an appointnment with dr. texeira, in nyc. I hear he is great.

good luck

Hi,

Thanks for responding. I have selected Dr. George Ferzi. During my research I also considered Dr. Texeira. He has a great reputation as well. I went with Ferzli because I have a friend who also used him and because he operates at Lutheran in Brooklyn which is convenient for me. Good Luck, and let me know if you find out anything from Empire!

I have the Empire Government plan and was approved in one day.  I didn'thave a 6 month monitoring period because I think that our plan had the additional rider for weight loss surgery.  I'm in long island so I don't know of any support groups in the city.  I hope that your approval process goes really fast. 

Best of luck to you.

Patty

wow, one day? I hope that their policy hasnt changed. thanks for the feedback.

Thanks Patty,

I appreciate the feedback. I hope my approval process is equally smooth! My concern is mainly because I don't have any comorbidities (which is a good thing!), but I don't know how the insurance company will handle it. Thanks for the encouragement!

When I had my surgery in March, I had Empire. I was not required to do the 6 month doc supervised diet, only to submit a weight loss atempt history for the past 5 years. I dont know if they have changed their procedure. Also I had lap band surgery. Maybe it is different for lapband than RNY?

but I know that whatever the requirements are once you have fulfilled them Empire is really good about aproving you very quickly. Once my stuff was submitted it took them 2 business days to review and give a decission.

GOOD LUCK!

Thanks for responding. I appreciate your feedback. I'm hoping that my approval process will be quick and painless as well!

PS: I was reading your blog and noticed that you were interning in the addiction field. I work in the addiction field and would be happy to talk with you about it. Also, although some don't consider food an addiction, there are many, many who do and there is some great literature about it. Please feel free to contact me if you're interested.

Thanks

---Christina

I have Empire/United Health Care for New York State employees, When I first began this process, I called the insurance company and I got several different answers.  My Dr.'s office said I absolutley had to do the 6 month supervised diet, the insurance company said I didnt because of my BMI...however, my dr's office wouldnt even submit for approval until they had everything, and in their eyes meant the 6 month diet, so I dont know what to tell you, I started this process in March of 08 and Im still in waiting.  Good luck and I will let you know how long it takes for my approval.