Advice from Experience Needed...

Hi everyone- I have been watching from the sidelines and decided to sign up and log on tonight. You guys are awesome and always so helpful so I am hoping an Angel with some insurance experience/ knowledge will give me some positive feedback. OK I guess I can handle the negative if it has to be. Please read on. In 5 hours I will be free from a healthcare policy that excludes weight loss surgery. I will then transfer my healthcare policy to my employer who approves of weight loss surgery as long as I classify as morbidly or severe obese. I went ahead of myself and scheduled an appointment with a surgeon for this Friday. I was told by my employer that my benefits would start immediately on Sept. 1 (tomorrow) . The only thing is that it takes 2 WEEKS to show up on United Healthcare's system. They (the benefit department) said that I would be covered immediately and the Doctor's office can call and verify that I do have UHC benefits with my employer's benefit department. The Doctor's office said it will probably be a process of 6-9 weeks before they will do the surgery. They said I had to see a whole list of Doctor's to get the okay. My question is, will the Doctor's office have to wait 2 weeks before sending off for the approval response? How long do the responses usually take? Thank you VERY much for responding!

JM, As I have been dealing with and talking to others about the insurance process for the last two months I think that I can be classified as an expert. Your doctor will most likely send it into to your insurance provider. I see you are in Texas. You may want to ask your doc's office and verify that they are "in network" with UHC. I know there are issues with some Doc's offices right now. Let me also warn you that UHC's customer service will not know and not be able to advise you. Go to the Doc and confirm. That being said... The regular situation would go like this - It may take your doc's office a week or two to send it in. (another thing I would ask them) Once the insurance company (especially uhc) has it they are pretty true to the 30 day response. I hope this helps. Though I don't have UHC I know 2 other people who have and are going through the same thing. Good luck on your journey! simply, Cami

We have UHC, the insurance girl at our surgeons office said if you do all the clearances before submitting to insurance they normally get a response back from UHC within 2 weeks. I'll let you know, our request was submitted 08/30--- I'll let you know when UHC gives us an answer.

Hey Darlene- Did you get your approval from UHC? I have been to the doctor but they won't submit the letter for approval until I am done with my surgical clearance visits first. Sad part is it's going to cost me $2500 out of pocket when it's all said and done. Guess I should be happy it's not going to be 100% self pay. They don't have exclusions in their policy but with the outrageous deductibles they should cover the surgery. Please let me know about your UHC. I hope it went well!