united healthcare center of excellence?

 I have United Healthcare Choice Plus and i just got off the phone with them to go over my benefits for the surgery, and my employer requires that i use one of UHC's centers of excellence. The dr. i was planning on using (because of the reviews i've heard on him, recommendation from my PCP,  his background, etc) of course is not at one of these centers. has anyone else had this problem and gotten around it? i already went to his seminar and have my consult scheduled for the 29th and i'm feeling really good about it and don't want to start dr. shopping all over again.

I also have UHC chioce plus,my surgery is tomorrow and the center of excellence is a requirement for UHC. My doctors office is a center of excellence and so is the hospital he works out of but I did not see them on UHC list for center of excellence, however I still got approved. I would check with who ever does the paper work for your doctors office and see if they ever has an issue getting approved and also check with UHC to see if you can get denied because of that.I was assigned a nurse who answered every question from start to finish.Ask for one to be assigned to you..

If your insurance company requires a Center of Excellence, I don't think there is any way around that.  Sorry.

Kelly

UHC requires that the doctor do surgery in a Center of Excellence because they want to ensure that their insured are well taken care of and getting the best care possible.

This link will give you some insight:

http://www.wlslifestyles.com/cached/_downloads/2120/What%20D oes%20it%20Take%20to%20Be%20a%20Bariatric%20Surgery%20Center %20of%20Excellence_main.pdf

Some doctors can perform surgeries in different hospitals. Ask your surgeon if they have any affiliation to one that is a Center of Excellence.

Don't let shills sell you the marking term 'center of excellence' as if it's designed around your wellbeing.  It is designed around the wellbeing of the insurance company’s uhc’a wallet.  Why wouldn’t Boston General Harvard med school training facility be on there or some of the other better university med schools around the country.  Use your reasoning.  Here is the skinny, no pun intended,   if you are outside 50 miles from one of their 'centers of excellence' then you can go to your choice of facility and they have to pay as if it were a center.. Stay informed, do your own research. Pick what you are comfortable with and never listen to people who tell you “you are out of luck “or cannot be done”, they are idiots.

I am in a similar situation. I was told that since my deductible for the year AND my maximum out of pocket for the year is met, AND the doctor I was planning on using is on their approved list (yet not in one of the Centers of Excellence) I can proceed with surgery at my chosen facility. The nearest excellence facility is 4-6 hours away by car. I prefer to be closer to home, know my doctors, and be familiar with the facility. I need a hip replacement but now have learned that I MUST get some weight off first.......Not happy, in pain, and trying to deal.

Why not come on down to Johns Hopkins?? It's what, two hours away??

http://smallscar.com

Just a thought....  wish MY UHC-Optimum Choice covered the surgery. Drat my company!!

Sheri