Get your contract documents and KNOW what is required. I have seen a lot of variability between UHC plans. That document is the contract between you and your insurance company, and they are obligated to follow it.

Good luck!!

Laurie

Yeah, starting to think that whomever answers the phone is supplied with VERY limited information.

 

Good luck with your surgery and hope you get your date before 2014!

How did you find out about ObesityHelp?  There are people that are interested in weight loss surgery, pre-ops and post-ops that don't know about ObesityHelp.  We're asking for your help to reach out to others that would benefit from our community.

From our amazing OH members, there is so much support and information that would help countless other WLS'ers on our message boards, Health Tracker, our Goal system, OH online Groups, Before/After photos and lots more features.  We have thousands of articles that are available on OH to help others in their own WLS journey that are written by professionals and others experienced in the bariatric community . 

Our founder created ObesityHelp in 1998 from his vision of "Making The Journey Together" and that is what we've cared about most at OH. 

Please help us share ObesityHelp with your family, friends, work associates, your doctor or surgeon, anyone and everyone in the bariatric community.  Join us as we pay it forward.

Thank you for being part of our ObesityHelp community. 

 

Never mind I guess! The office coordinator just called me back and told me that not only do I have to do a 6 month supervised diet program, but also offer 5 years of history of having a BMI over 40.

I feel so defeated already. The six month weight loss program really to me, is no big deal. That's absolutely fine, I've waited this long and it'll just get me ready for the lifelong changes I'll have to make.

However, I have no clue how I will provide 5 years of Dr. office visits showing I have consistently had a BMI over 40. For a few years I didn't even have insurance, and so going to the Dr. wasn't exactly possible.

How could I call my provider and get a different answer? Is it that they truly don't know what they are talking about? lol! UHC needs to provide their reps on all the information needed so they can pass it along to us, the people that pay them!

Hey everyone! I have been wanting to get gastric bypass since I was 17, but never had the opportunity. No insurance and obviously never had the 30k to pay out of pocket. Also, self pay just really would be last resort for me. Those interest rates kill you! I even thought about going to Mexico to have the surgery done. I've read some really positive things about medical tourism. However, I'd prefer to have it done in the states.

So my question is, I have United Healthcare, Choice Plus with Estée Lauder Co. I've called several times and yes it is covered. My BMI is 50 and they have stated that with my particular plan/carrier that not only do I not need to participate in a weight loss study or program, but I don't need to supply them with a 5 year history of an over 40 BMI.

I even have asked them if once everything is submitted to them, will I THEN get something telling me that it IS required. And they told me "no. It would be in your policy if that was the case."

Is this too good to be true? Am I going to be dissapointed? Anyone out there have a similar experience with this?

Thanks so much!