United Healthcare through Medicaid

I feel so helpless. I am on Medicaid and when you are on the program, you must select an HMO. So, my HMO is United Healthcare. So when I go to the doctor or such, they are NOT billing Medicaid, it goes through United Healthcare. I called several surgeons who take United Healthcare, but because I have my UHC through Medicaid, they refuse to see me. I actually had one office come right out and say that although it was UHC, they do not deal with anything that has Medicaid associated with it. This is so unfair and, I feel, discrimination. I have spent the whole morning crying. I am so tired of being treated like a 2nd class citizen because of my situation. Because I do not have as much money as others or better healthcare than others, does that mean I deserve to be unhealthy. I feel so hopeless and I do not know where to turn now.

Rather than calling doctors asking them if they will work with you - call UnitedHealthcare directly, tell them your situation and ask for a list of doctors in your area, in network, that can do bariatric surgery. Note: they MAY tell you that it is an excluded procedure (depends on the plan) but ask for the list anyway. If you have a username and number you can log in at myuhc.com and get all of this information yourself. Hope that helps.

Thank you Anaiis for your response. Unfortunatley, I already did that. United Health Care did not have ANY bariatric surgeons on their list for the plan that I am on....even though they do cover it. Doesn't seem to make much sense. Because my United Healthcare coverage is through the Medicaid program, doctor's do not want to deal with me. Until then, I will keep searching and hoping I can find someone to help me. Your response was so appreciated!! Thanks : )

Hi Dawn I know you must be seriously frustrated. I don't think surgeons aren't accepting Medicaid because of any bias... most surgeons are having tremendous difficulty getting Medicaid to pay once the surgery is completed. Before I had my surgery, I went to a seminar where the insurance specialist told us most bariatric surgeons were no longer accepting Medicaid patients because they were not getting paid. The surgical group she represented had performed 36 RNY's on Medicaid patients over a period of one year and they never got paid on any of them. Most of the surgical groups in Miami won't even make an appointment for you with the bariatric surgeon unless they have verified that the procedure is even covered under your plan. It's not you personally that is being singled out. I know it must feel like it is. The problem is with Medicaid not paying the surgeons and hospitals for the services provided. I thought there was still one surgeon in Florida accepting Medicaid patients. Here is a link to a discussion about which surgeons in Florida accept Medicaid, hopefully you can find a doctor from this list! http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/state-forums/FL/postdetail/27133.html?vc=0 Good luck! ~ Trish

God bless you Trish!! I know it is more of a Medicaid issue than a "me" issue. I think I was just feeling a bit sorry for myself...LOL. I think I found a doctor that might be able to help me. I am not 100% sure yet, but I will hopefully find out tomorrow. Your words were an assurance to me. Thank you!

if you been with united health care less than 90 days, you can change them to another HMO.