Question:
I have UHC Choice Plus (TX) and was denied. What codes does everyone use?

I see on this site that most people are approved with UHC. What codes do you use for the wls surgery. UHC told me and my employer they stopped covering WLS as of 2003. Please help I am desperate.    — tanyadillard48 (posted on February 3, 2006)

February 3, 2006
Tanya, If your insurance is provided through your employer, and your employer has opted to NOT include coverage for bariatric surgery, then codes won't help you. The first place to start is by approaching your employer (usually the HR department) and asking them why, and if there's any chance they would reconsider. Write a factual, detail-oriented letter telling them why you want to have that option included in your insurance coverage. Sadly, a lot of companies are paring down the benefits that they offer, and this additional bariatric rider is getting axed all too often. That's why a lot of us end up being self-pay patients. Best of luck to you! Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

February 3, 2006
If you have UHC of Texas (grp # w/ 5 #'s) Then most likely it's not covered. UHC excluded WLS on a HUGE number of insurance policies in '02 & '03. These are the lump policies and not ones by large employers. If you only added the (TX) because that's where you are located, then you may have some other kind of UHC policy and the above wouldn't apply.
   — RebeccaP

February 4, 2006
Tanya, many people do get approved through UHC for WLS, however, it isn't always the case. I have UHC and I'm from Houston, needless to day I was denied and ended up self-paying for the surgery. In the state of Texas, insurance companies have the option of electing the WLS rider to the employers, as the laws in Texas state if an employer has less than 50 employees they don't have to offer it even as an option. That is the case for me. I work for a small company and my employer was willing to override the exclusion if it was the option the omitted to include, UHC would not help, they told me and my employer it wasn't an option and my company could not override it *sigh*. Sorry you are dealing with this also, first off talk to your employer if your company has more than 50 employees and plead your case to them, they can try to override the exclusion if it was no elected by them. Best wishes, Dana
   — cajungirl

February 27, 2006
HI! I live in Georgia and have UHC choice plus through Delta and surgery was covered last year and now as of jan.1 2006 it is not! So now Im a self-pay for my surgery.
   — stephanieb