Insurance denied!

I would not consider myself a smoker. I was having about two a week with my husband as a way to relax with a drink. I usually mark "no" on surveys and whatnot, because it is so infrequent. So when they therapist doing my eval asked, I told her the truth. So now I am marked a smoker!?! I told the therapist I would quit because it was no big deal, and I did. I have been absolutely smoke free for three weeks! But because I told the therapist that, my insurance denied me. Now what? Is there a test they can do that proves I quit?

Your insurance has a policy that says you cannot be a smoker?  That's unusual.  Many surgeons won't operate until you quit but I think it's unusual for insurance companies to have that policy.

Anyway, I'd call your insurance company and ask how long you must be smoke free and if they require a nicotine test to prove it.  There is a blood test they can do.

I doubt that smoking was the reason for denial unless your policy explicitly states that smokers are ineligible (which I have never heard of).  

What, exactly, did your denial letter say?

Lora

As mentioned, find out exactly why the insurance denied you, it should state the reason in the denial letter, it should also reference any policy guidelines they used to make the decision and you have the right to get a copy of those guidelines. Then time to appeal! http://www.obesityhelp.com/articles/7-tips-insurance-appeals

The letter states "The plan participant is not a non-smoker. this service is defined as a not covered expense under the plan." MedCost

I have to take a nicotine test to get hired at my current job, it looks like a pregnancy test. My dr office said they would set up an appt to try to get approval if originally denied.

"Do you smoke" was an important question from my Dr.  He gives his patients time to quit, but you need two nicotine tests clean before he will do surgery.  Everyone gets the test whether you smoke or not. (for those who do not tell the truth).  Dr said it usually takes smokers 6 months to quit if they are serious about WLS.  He will not operate on a smoker.

It almost sounds like they don't cover bariatric surgery the way it says it is a non covered service. Did you check with them before hand to see if they cover bariatric surgery or were you going by what your surgeons office may have told you? I too have never heard of an insurance company refusing surgery because of being a smoker.