UHC-State of GA Health Plan (Eliminating WLS)

(Kinda LONG)

This Post is to Inform All State of GA State Health Benefit Members of UHC UPDATED changes...

Thank GOD, I was blessed to be able to have my surgery this year (05-11-11)!

However, I was helping one of my Co-Workers get through the Process with United Health Care. Today, she called the Insurance Company to start the Process of having the Vertical Sleeve. She was informed that UHC would be ELIMINATING WLS Coverage starting January 2012. 

UHC has a 6-month supervised weight loss program for their members. Therefore, my co-worker will not be able to have the surgery covered by insurance. UHC also stated that for any members that started the process, but will not HAVE their surgery before January 1, 2012, WILL NOT BE COVERED!   We were totally SURPRISED and I must say she was very upset because she has really been researching with my help and now is ready to go forward, just to get stopped...

So, Does anyone know whether or not CIGNA (State of GA Benefit Plan) covers Bariatric Surgery???????


Please see the Article Below from UHC Website...

NOTE:  The Bariatric Resource Services (BRS) benefit is being eliminated by the State Health Benefit effective January 1, 2012.  No new patients are being accepted into the program for the remainder of 2011. 

 All pre-surgery requirements and scheduled surgeries must be completed by December 31, 2011.  If the member has already  registered with BRS, they should contact their assigned BRS Nurse at 800-955-7976, ext. 72908 with any questions.  A BRS staff member will contact the member within 48 hrs.

 

Lap-Band adjustments:  If the member has had a previous lap-band surgery and develops complications requiring an adjustment, then the lap-band adjustment will be covered.

Unfortunately many insurance companies all over the country are dropping WLS of any kind. Very strange to me that everyone is aware of the health hazards of obesity and its prevelance. Its a way to cut costs. Good luck on your journey

I was reading a newspaper article to in our local paper that was talking about this.They said another reason why some insurances are dropping it because people after so many yrs people gain their weight back and then want another WLS done , or they get one done and then they go get another one done .

They made it very clear in the article they was NOT talking about people that had complications due to the surgery , but people that abused the surgery . 

I know a person  that has done that got one surgery done lost all the weight gained it all back and then went to another WLS had it done and now in the process of gaining their weight back.  Her insurance refused to pay for another WLS on her.

I think there is alot of p eople out there think oh goody  I will get this surgery done wont have to do a single thing and the weight will come off .  They dont realize you have to watch what you eat, how much you eat, and exercise in order to lose the  weight and to keep it off for the rest of your life .

Yes! I got mine done under Cigna!

 NO! This isn't a UHC or Cigna thing, this is a State Health Benefit Plan decision as part of sweeping changes the State is making to the healht insurance plan.  This only affects state employees and school system employees in GA. 

http://www.georgiahealthnews.com/2011/08/state-health-plan-launches-premium-kids/ 
http://dch.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,31446711_31450193_174513485,00.html