unicare

anyone out of oregon have any experience with unicare insurance in covering wls

Yes!!!!! Me!! I had surgery four years ago and Unicare paid for the whole thing.  I had been languishing in the Kaiser bariatric program  for almost two years.  I had done everything they required with the exception of losing the pre-op weight they require.   Julie and Brenda continued to say  "I wasn't ready".  In December we decided to change insurance.  I saw Dr. Hong out of Emma Patterson's office in January.  I had my surgery in April.  I will never forget the agony of the approval process, but believe it or not the details are getting fuzzy.  I remember I was able to use some of the things I had already done at Kaiser (i.e., sleep study) to fulfill Dr. Hong's requirements.  I still needed the pshyc. exam.  Dr. Poole in Vancouver was in network.  When Dr. Hong's office submitted the paperwork for approval I started to track it's progress with Unicare.  I know those phone calls made a difference.  By the time I got approval the original paperwork had not actually been received yet.  There was some wording about them making a decision xxx number of days after receiving the request.  I faxed them a copy of the paperwork and tracked it from there.  I had to supply some additional items  (a letter with the needed wording from my PCP).  I don't know if things have gotten harder or easier with the passing of time and the increase in by-pass surgeries? Of course it all depends on your actual policy, but the company did pay for mine.  Good luck!! Patty