cautiously optimistic

Well, my paperwork was sent to the insurance company this morning for authorization so I called them this afternoon to start my heckling. The customer service rep I spoke to was very nice and said she thought it looked as if it had already been approved. I wrote down the "authorization numbers" she gave me. I was feeling happy but a little unbelieving, so a couple hours later I called and talked to someone in another department. This time I was told that the case was still being reviewed and that the numbers were reference numbers, not auth. numbers. I was a bit deflated at that thought, however, this means that at least they have the case in hand and I should hopefully know something soon. Can anyone else out there tell me of their experience with United Health Care.....do they give authorization numbers? (Still hoping it's for sure, LOL)

Careful and don't get your hopes up. United Health Care does not ever approve bariatric surgery in Utah. They have an exclusion to it. It might be fine if your company specifically allows it. Utah is one of the states that is thinking about changing the laws to either allow all insurance companies to exclude it, or they have to approve given the proper cir****tances/need. On another note, I had no problem recently getting my reduex of bariatric surgery through approval of United Health Care. I will have the second surgery to correct the problems from the first just 3 days after my one year anniversary. With me it is a totally different cir****tance. Mine is not cormorbidities this time, but a life threatening problem that has arisen. Lucky me I fell inot the category of the 1 to 3 % of those who develop a herniated intestinal track. If you have very many problems with UHC let me know. I'm a pitbull when it comes to dealing with insurance companies, and in particular UHC. Their cheif medical officer CMO is an idiot and doesn't know a thing. 8 years ago he on the phone told me there is no such thing as an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament, it runs through the middle of your knee holding your knee joint together) and denied the claim for the knee surgery. After I asked him where he got his degree "Sears and Robuck" and grilled him on basic anatomy and physiology, he relented and approved the claim. Insurance companies sadly are in the business of keeping the money you pay them. It is in their interest to deny everything if at all possible. You have to be proactive and get in their face. I've even driven to insurance company headquarters to talk directly to the pres (in Tennessee) The old addage the squeaky wheel gets the grease. What Utah needs is a state oversight board like the California insurance reglatory board. It is not made up of insurance companies but state officials that make sure that the insurance companies do what they are supposed to do. In California baratric surgery is not able to be excluded. Until we as the citizens of this state demand better insurance coverage and oversight we will be treated as if we are in a third world country.

Interresting. I wonder if UHC in Utah just doesn't approve RNY, because they are one of the best insurance companies in the state for approving Lap-Band. My surgeon's group even mentions them in their initial presentation as one of the companies that is the easiest for them to work with.