Calling all United Health Care experiences...

I've had several surgeons and PCP's relate that UHC has been exceptional in paying for WLS. We're looking at changing our store's health care coverage and one of the providers in play is in fact UHC. Can anyone share their experiences with using United Health Care? Can you tell me if WLS is "officially" excluded, and if so what hoops we have to jump through to gain approval?

I had no problems with UHC. I was approved in about a week. I've also heard they are easy dealing with. But the ones that have had problems I think it was with the employer and it's exclusions. GL~ Jess

We have UHC Choice plus. No issues, very few requirements--- Hubby was aopproved in 7 days. Im keeping the same insurance, hopefully will be having WLS myself next yr.

In a word, terrible...I have nothing good to say about UHC. I am healthy, a very good candidate for surgery. I have multiple dr.'s approvals for the surgery. I need a knee replacement and my doc doesn't want to do it until I have WLS, so that sounds like a logical reason for UHC to approve it. No, I have an exclusion and got several letters of denial after appeals. No surgery. If I could do it some other way, I would.

I have UHC and it was excluded from my policy. I even called and they told me it was excluded and I would have to go into appeal stage. Well, as we all Know GOD IS GOOD. I'm having surgery Wed. Didn't have to do an appeal. Dr. just sent in the paperwork and I got an approval letter. That was it and it clearly stated exclusion. So you just have to go for it. Much love to you, best of wishes.

Thanks all for replying with your experiences! I certainly appreciate each one of ya'll! Diva, thanks especially for your reply...God Certainly is Good indeed!! I'm relying on HIS power and plan not my own so I have no fear that UHC will handle my case correctly as well!! Congrats on all ya'll's journeys!

I'm hoping that you are still reading these posts. I have UHC and they are denying me coverage. I have a letter from my orthopedist stating how badly I need the surgery so that I do not have to have a double knee replacement. Which doctor did you get to send in a letter and where did the letter get sent? PLEASE HELP, I'VE ALREADY GOT A SURGERY DATE OF 8/15/06 AND I'M TRYING TO GET ALL OF THIS RESOLVED BEFORE THEN ! ! ! ! ! . Thanks, Sheri Baton Rouge, LA

I think it depends on the employer. I work for the state of Georgia and I have UHC, but my employer opted to exclude WLS - regardless of medical necessity, no less. Now I'm fighting because since my Psych eval specifically for WLS consideration was approved, I was encourage to try to get coverage and now they say I can't because the surgeon it out of network - so we're off and running. JA

Hi JoAnn..yeah I'm sort of in the same boat here I think. I own my own business and WANT to switch to UHC because a lot of the word from the surgeons I've talked to is very good about them covering WLS easily. But now, I can't even get UHC to return a call...they told me last week that they were in the process of "rebuilding" their providers directory and won't have it completed for some time! Bummer..and something smells. Problem is, the surgeon and the hospital his program uses, is still listed as a network provider, but my local PCP and hospital have all been dropped for some reason. the doctor's office says it's UHC, UHC says it's the doctors...and I'm stuck with my old insurance that is really stingy about paying for WLS. sigh. I'm not sure what's up with the "employer opting out" stories, my local agent says that's all a hog-wash line to avoid even considering coverage most of the time, and that ANY employer can file for an "exemption" for an employee...perhaps with a fee the employee would have to repay.

Hi, Both my husband's plan and mine are with UHC and neither will cover the surgery. So you need to get any proposed plan prior to signing on for anything, and read the exclusions very carefully. If there is an obesity exclusion, it will make it very tough for you to get coverage. Good luck to you!