Question:
Aetna PPO POS

Will Aetna Accept a letter from my PCP outling my 6 year battle with weighloss as his patient instead of the 6 mo. diet and exercise regimen?    — opticaltech (posted on August 3, 2006)

August 3, 2006
Hi LG, I have Aetna HMO in Ohio and my doctor wrote a letter and gave my 5 yr weight history. Also, my arthritis doctor and Sleep apnea doctor did the same and they approved me within 2 weeks. This was just last year February and I had my surgery in July of 2005.
   — Charmaine C.

August 3, 2006
I live in New Jersey, Aetna required my doctor to fax over MY ENTIRE FILE of notes from the last six months to prove I had weight counselling. A letter was not enough. A phone call from my primary to the Medical Director of Aetna for my area was what finally got me approved.
   — WMKaisla

August 3, 2006
I highly doubt it. I haven't heard of anyone getting around their supervised diets. I have Aetna too.
   — platypus

August 3, 2006
Nope, I have Aetna and I had to do the diet and exercise regime and turn in 5 years of diet history. You will need both. BUT! The good news is that they approve you very quickly. I had my letter in less than a week. I had surgery June 19, 2006. I have lost 46 pounds in 6 1/2 weeks! It is the easiest thing I have ever done! Good Luck!
   — jchapman76240

August 4, 2006
If you have went in at least monthly and been weighed and the dr sends in his notes about you being on a dr supervised weight loss plan and your monthly weight and if you have been on it 6 mos, usually within the last 5 or 2 yrs. Some will accept it even if it has been 2-5 yrs since you have done it. Anyone even contemplating this surgery needs to go to their pcp and have them to start on a dr supervised weight loss diet. That will save time so that you don't have to go back and do it again.
   — geneswife