Approval for WLS Unitedhealtcare EPO-Choice Plus

Hello!!! Is there anyone out there *****cently gained approval from UnitedHealtcare to have WLS? If so...how difficult was it and how long did it take??? I'm anxious to know...

Davita, I have United Health Care thru hubby's employment. I was approved on first request and not even being 100# overweight. I did have some health issues, though. That was in October. I had surgery 12-15-03. My surgeon's office dealt with the insurance direct. You can email me at [email protected] or call me at 786-293-8151 if you want more info. Good luck.

Ruthanna: Thanks for your response.I will continue to be encouraged. Though I don't have any comorbities, I am still over overweight, and the threat of gaining any other health problems scare me. I know that I am at least 125 pounds over weight....my BMI is 43. My main concern is whether the insurance company will accept that. Did you have to submit any diet history and exactly how long after the Dr's office submitted your request were you given an answer? I have the support of my PCP and she wrote a letter of medical necessity. Supposedly, the surgeon that I have chosen ( Dr. Robert Thomas) is good about getting his patients approved. I just think that I am anxious about the whole thing. Again, Thank You so much for your response and I will be contacting you again!!! Take Care!!!

I have United Healthcare PPO. It took less than two weeks to get approved. My BMI was 53 and I had several co-morbidities. My surgeon's office did a wonderful job of submitting the paperwork. I didn't have to provide anything at all (other than info to my surgeon.) Good luck! Jan

I have United Health HMO and was approved after the first letter in two weeks. No problem at all. The doctors office wrote down all the diet history but I didn't have to prove anything. The surgeopn office submitted all the paperwork and i just had to go to the preop appointments and everything was great! United Health Care has an exclusion to WLS on our policy now through the Palm Beach County School Board that went into effect on January 1, 2004. You might want to get on with the program before it spreads. I am really hoping they decide to pick it up again because so many of my friends waited until it was too late! Good luck! Kathy Miller