Hi Lucy, Just wondering how you made out with Cigna. I also have Cigna and am at a 40 BMI, no comorbidities...also worried about losing weight on the 3 month diet. Afraid if I lose one pound that I will drop below the 40 BMI and not get approved. Hard to balance that weight, clothing can vary that weight by a pound or two. Ive been through this process once before about 6 yrs ago and dropped below 40 and was denied. At the time, the surgeon required a 10% weight loss, I know the criteria has gotten easier in the last few years and the surgeon Im considering now does not require it. Im nervous about going through the whole process again only to be denied. Just wondering how your process has gone with Cigna? 

Thanks for the reality check, noftessa.  I definitely posted this in frustration.  I really did feel like giving up at that moment but I most certainly did not.  Just needed to vent. 

I did keep calling the insurance company and I did let them know I would file a complaint with the insurance commissioner if I did not receive a response to my inquiries.  I was immediately given the name and direct number for a supervisor.  Since then, I have received callbacks within about 24hrs of my messages.  I also continued to follow up with my surgeon's office once a week.  I finally got some kind of progress on Friday.  My insurance coordinator and I had a great phone call and I received all of the items in my file that was sent to the insurance company.  He had refaxed everything on Thursday and I faxed it again on Friday.  The insurance called me today and confirmed they had received everything, it was assigned to a nurse and being reviewed, and I should have an approval/denial in the next day or two. 

I really would not suggest someone give up or just wait and see.  Being proactive saved me two months of waiting to find out that nothing was received in the right place. 

She probably wants to send it in now because there is a limit how far before surgery you can do a diet/exercise regimen and have it count towards surgery.  I believe with Aetna, that limit was no earlier than 2 years prior to surgery.  If you don't use it, you might lose it.  

Worse thing that can happen, as far as I know, is that they deny it due to the requirements not being met.  Then you would have to re-submit once the requirements were met.  I would be more worried about losing that 3-month program since it was so long ago.  You might have to do the whole 6 months over again.  I think it is something definitely worth looking into.

Good luck!

If your insurance company requires 6 month diet/exercise program, why would your rep want to send it in sooner?  If you haven't met all of the requirements, they will just deny you. 

Maybe she knows something different.  Good luck!

Hi there.  No, I was not required to do the 6 month supervised program.  In fact, I was given the impression that my approval would be quick and easy.  The requirements were just PCP approval, a statement from the surgeon that my past attempts at weight loss were sufficient, and the psych eval.  I had everything completed early and stayed on top of having the psych eval sent to the surgeon's office.  My paperwork was submitted 4+ weeks ago and the insurance company is still refusing to acknowledge receipt when I contact them.  However, the insurance coordinator at the surgeon's office contacted them and they said it was received and being reviewed.