New... Getting approved with UHC?

Hi everyone... I'm new here. I am just looking into wls and very excited about the prospect. Can anyone tell me the requirements of UHC for approval? Or what you had to do to be approved with them?? Thanks!

Congratulations on looking to improve your health and, subsequently, your quality of life through bariatric surgery! To get more information about UnitedHealthcare's policy on bariatric surgery, you can visit UntiedHealthcare's Web site at http://www.uhc.com to try to find plan information there.  Also, since you are a subscriber, you should have been provided and explanation of coverage or, at least, a summary of benefits.  Both of these documents provide you plan information to help you make an informed financial decision on whether to pursue the surgery or not. If you have not received either of these documents, you should contact the customer service department to request them as well as to talk with the department about bariatric surgery and whether it is covered under your policy or not.  Any information that you are provided should be documented and maintained in the event that you have to reference it in the future. I hope I was able to answer your question.

If you call the phone number on the back of your card, they will be happy verify you have coverage for WLS and to give you the requirements over the phone.  You can ask them to ssend you something in writing if you can't find your copy.  I have UHC and my requirements were pretty "average": I had to prove I have been overweight for 5 years, BMI must be 40 or 35 with comorbidities, proof of a supervised diet for 6 months, dietician eval/consult, psyc eval, some lab work to rule out thyroid or other medical reasons for weight gain, H Pilori test.  I am probably missing something, but just call them. Your doctor will have requirements, too, but they typically run along these same lines. Good luck to you. Martha

I'm sorry yall... I forgot to mention that my coverage won't start with them until December 1st. But I did go ahead and get the customer service number and the group number from my boss so I can ask them "hypothetically" what I would need to do. Also, I know they cover it because 3 women at my company have had it as well under our insurance...

WOW MARTHA YOU HAD TO DO ALL THAT??!! WHEN I CALLED THEY JUST SAID YES ITS COVERED AND WHEN I ASKED  FOR THE REQUIREMENTS THEY JUST SAID IT HAD TO BE  A MEDICAL NECESSITY. THAT WAS IT, NOTHING ELSE. JUDY MINE IS UHC CHOICE PLUS PLAN I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

you are better of knowing for sure by doing 2 things that i neglected to do to begin with. and most importantly anytime you call anyone requiring about surgery be iyour doctor, employer or insurance keep notes- dates-times and names. OK so 1- get a copy of your benefit plans which lists all exclusions. 2- contact your director of benefits from your employer. i only say this because i was told by UHC on several occassions (when calling # on back of card) that i do have coverage for WLS. I was denied after pre-approval was sent because I do not have coverage. They read my policy WRONG each and EVERY time i called. the same info was given to my surgeons office manager when she called with procedure codes. I am fighting my appeal but I just dont want to see it happen to others.......GOOD LUCK

Yep, went through it all.  I think we have choice plan, too.  Didn't need a referral from our PCP or anything like that.  I think my requirements would be the same no matter which surgery I have, as they gave me the list the very first time I called. I don't know why it is different, but maybe it is just different policy details. Wish mine would go that quickly. I didn't mind the psyc and dietary evaluations, as my surgeon requires them, too. The lab work, well, I am glad I did that, I found out I was anemic and am now on iron. I had old records from when I went to WW.  I am all approved now I am just waiting for the VSG approval.  If I wanted lap or RNY, I could have been in months ago. Martha