United health care choice plus???

THIS QUESTION IS FOR A FRIEND ANY ADVICE WOULD BE APPRECIATED!!! She sent this to me thats why its written the way it is!

I have united health care choice plus. I called them the other day and to ask if they covered WLS and they told me no, but on here Ive read several people being approved with UHC choice plus. I know other people who have UHC and it always seemed we had the better policy compared to my friends. I am wondering if there would be a better chance of them covering it if the doctors office called the insurance company? I have several medical things caused by obesity. Just looking for some advice.
Thanks

I used UHC-It paid for everything-This was in 2005, tho, & I did hear recently they were getting picky about coverage-Definitely let the dr insurance person help-Mine was wonderful-Hope this helps-Jae

From what I understand, and I am not an expert, it isn't UHC as much as it is your employer. If your employer chooses a policy with WLS coverage, then it is covered as long as you meet their requirements. My husband works for a company that chose a UHC policy that included WLS. The conditions I have to meet are a BMI of 40 or over, or a BMI 35-39 with at least one co-morbidity...High Cholesterol, Sleep Apnea, High Blood Pressure...etc. I have a BMI of 40.1 with Diabetes type 2, andHigh Blood Pressure. So I meet their requirements. If your friend has a husband, have him check his insurance policy, or have her talk to her HR department and see if they have any intentions of maybe changing policies some time soon. Best of luck to her.

Please let me know how this works out for her. I have United Health Care as well and am beginning the process of the insurance stuff. I have UHC on my own (so no employer) hope it works out for her!

I have UHC and WLS is excluded from coverage completly.  So I will be paying my own way.

I also have UHC and from what I understand it does have much to do with the plan the employer chooses.  I called before hand and was told I had coverage and did not need to do the 6 month weight loss.  So, I started the process at the end of March.  Got everything done the Dr. required and got my letter of approval Monday.  Yesterday I scheduled surgery for August!

Congrats!!!!!! I too have uhc, and I know my employer covers it as several of the girls at work are already post op, but im conflicted. Two girls at work say they had to do 6 mos weight loss programs with physicians, but I had my seminar with my surgeon sat, he said based on my insurance I didnt need it. Now im confused, optumhealth said I did, and I printed out the form for it but he said otherwise. What are your thoughts on it?

I'm certainly no expert but I'll tell you my experience.  I had BCBS before UHC.  5 years ago I started the entire process and was told 6 months monitored weight loss or 3 months of 2.  That made no sense to me.  So, I went to ww and my Dr. at least once a month.  They turned me down saying my Dr. wasn't an approved monitored weight loss.  What???  I think they just wanted to say no, no matter what.  Then I had a tragedy in my family and put off the whole process.  Move ahead 5 years and my insurance changes.  I thought I'd just check out and see what UHC will cover.  Gave them a call and they told me it was covered and she did not see that I would have to do the 6 month monitored weight loss program.  So, I just decided to do what my Dr. required and have them submit it and see what happened.  If I need to do the monitored weight loss I would start.  It was very simple for me because I got approved the first time without having to do the 6 month weight loss program.  I know it's a frustrating process because you get so many conflicting answers.  In my case, I wanted them to submit it and go from there.  I know this probably doesn't help much but this is where I've been.  If you have your Dr. submit for approval and you get denied because you need to do the 6 months, is it harder because you have to appeal?  I don't know.  Good luck and let me know what happens.

 That is my understanding too.  I also have UHC and was advised by the patient advocate at my surgeon's office to contact HR rep to determine if they bought the WLS portion of the plan.  Found out they did.  Couldn't give me much details about it, but at least I now know it is covered.  I'm also in the very early stages of this process, still don't know if I will need the supervised diet.  Good Luck.  Hope that helps some.  

I also have UHC. On the website, it gives a list of things that need done before we can have our surgery. I printed it out and took it to my doc at the last appointment. It said nothing about the 6 month, so my doc is referring me in September (as my one year having UHC is up in August). I'm already making plans and getting all my ducks in a row.... thanks for posting this! It sure helped alot! (I was wondering about the insurance thing too!)