Question:
Anyone been approved from Cigna withOUT Dr-supervised diet?

I have Cigna HMO of AZ and wondered if Cigna will approve without physician-supervised diet? If so, what were your circumstances? I have tried EVERYTHING except this. Thank you!    — Kimberly P. (posted on April 16, 2002)

April 16, 2002
I can't understand why insurance companies insist on the dr. supervised diet--I found with my research that --published scientific reports document that non-operative methods alone have NOT been effective in achieving a medically significant long term weight loss in obese adults. A group was studied for the period of 4 years--one third of the group dropped out--and the total weight loss for the 4 years was an average weight loss of only 3pounds. When will the insurance companies realize that these weight loss attempts often cause depression, anxiety, irritability, weakness and preoccupation with food. The treatment goal for obesity should be an improvement in health achieved bya durable weight loss that reduces life threatening risk factors and improve performance of activities of daily living. If you would like to know my sources please email me my addy is on my profile...
   — Linda L.

April 16, 2002
My nurse practitioner, backed up by my primary care physician, was very supportive regarding the supervised weight loss plan required for Cigna approval. She had seen me try and fail at every weight loss attempt over the years. To meet Cigna's requirement, she handed me a sheet of paper with a diet from the Heart Association or somewhere (I didn't even look at it) and told me to come back every 4 weeks for 12 weeks to be weighed. We both knew that we were just playing the game. After 12 weeks, she wrote an appeal letter to Cigna, and I was approved immediately. It was tempting to call Cigna and ask what exatly they were looking for, but I didn't want to rock the boat. I just wanted my surgery, and I got it. It's been 8 months since my lap RNY and I've lost over 130 lbs. I'm healthier than ever, feeling great. I'm no longer covered by Cigna because my employer doesn't participate with them any more, so it's a good thing I had my surgery when I did. (Our new insurance does not cover the surgery.) Best wishes to you!
   — Debbie C.

April 17, 2002
I just wanted to tell you that the very large corp. I work for, we had Cigna Ins. brought in two years ago, due to a PPO dropping out. There was such a problem of denials of coverage by Cigna ( drugs, therapys...etc.) That over 90% of the people that were covered by Cigna, dropped them this past January and switched to one of the other ins. plans. I have some back problems that may in the future have to have surgery to correct, but my PCP, the back surgeon, the physical rehab. doctor and the pain mgt doctor (currently admin. spinal blocks for my back), were more than excited that I was going to change ins. coverage from Cigna this past Jan. They all said that it was the hardest company to get approvals from and the slowest payer of ins. co's. - So much so that my PCP wanted until the ins. switch in Jan. that then she put in for my WLS (open distal RNY)on 1/2/02. I have been approved and have finished all my pre-tests and now I'm waiting for the surgery on 5/14/02 in Indy. GOOD LUCK ! with your ins. battles.
   — Ken H.