DENIED

Well at a little before 6pm yesterday, UNC called as said CIGNA had denied my request due to documentation being inadequate for the 6 month physician supervised weight loss program.  So I have to start over with the 6 months (my doctor had to reschedule an appointment which created a 6 week gap between appointments---apparently that's enough for the paperpushers at CIGNA to deny me----no offense to paperpushers). 

I can't begin to explain the distress ... I feel so frustrated, I physically hurt... so I've scheduled an appointment with my doctor for Thursday (Sept 30) and will start the whole thing over.  I have one other hail mary I can try..if the documentation is available...but I don't know.

I wish you the best of luck!  I know how it is to be so close and yet it seems so far away.  It will happen! 

Hi Gale,

I can hear and 'feel' your disappointment and frustration. My dear husband had a very similar thing happen to him. One of the things that we did after that fiasco was to schedule his PCP appointments for the beginning of the month. We then faxed a copy of the Dr's notes to the RN and insurance coordinator for review to make sure that they would 'pass muster' for the insurance review. This allowed us to reschedule later in the month and still get it in within the month if necessary. I hope that will work for you. 

As disappointing as this is, and I know it is. I hope that you realize that this is a 'bump' in the road on your journey and that you'll be able to get past it; it may take six months to do so, but you will. But know that you are already on your way and that you will get through this. My husband finely had his surgery in December of 2008 and his life has changed in ways we could not have fully imagined... I guess, I'm trying to say... Hang in there!

Cigna can be a pain inthe backside - but when they finally pay - they pay out wonderfully.

Try your "hailmary" it may just work. If not you're really not out anything. Best of luck to you.

- Iris

Thanks for all the encouragement. I've been able to get the research department of my doctor's office to write a letter detailing the 2 year study I did with a nutritionist, physician, diet and exercise plan.. I've heard they will not buy a research study in place of a conventional treatment (although I do not see why not)... It's my long shot...but we will see....I guess I feel a little better that I have atleast put something in motion... worse case scenario is I have to be sure I get 6 consecutive months with proper documentation... So if I can start September... I could be looking at a 2/2011 date... although I'll likely have to redo the psyc appointment...

Hi Gale,
Dont you give up your happy day is coming.
I am Dr. Farrels best fan.
The waiting part is actually worse than surgery.
Work with Dr. Farrels team and they will try to help you through this I think Kareb Coltan is a god send.
Make sure you make copies of everything you have to stay on top of it all.
Best of luck to you.
BTW I was denied and I wrote a letter to my insurance how life was for a super morbid obese person.
With my cane in hand I hand delivered my letter and was approved in two weeks.
                                                 Annie