Question:
NEED A 5 YR DR. SUPERVISED DIET HISTORY FOR AETNA!

I CALLED NEW START TO CHECK IF THEY HAD RECIEVED MY WLS PAPER WORK. THEY HAVE, WELL THE NURSE JENNA TOLD ME AETNA REQUIRES A 5 YEAR DIET SUPERVISED BY A DR. I YELLED "5 YEARS SUPERVISED" SHE SAID YES 5 YRS OR I WILL BE DENIED! I THINK SHE IS CRAZY! AETNAS POLICIES SAY 6 MTHS! MAYBE 5 YR HISTORY OF DIETS YOU HAVE ATTEMTPED! OK ANYONE HEARD THAT ONE? ANYWAY AROUND A DR. SUPERVISED DIET?    — CYNDI B. (posted on September 5, 2002)

September 4, 2002
You are correct that Aetna policy says 6 months. You can call them on that one. They are incorrect. I would not let them get away with it. Ask for a supervisor to discus this with. And go to the website to print out a copy of the policy so that you can fax it to them if you need to.
   — Vicki L.

September 4, 2002
I have Aetna and my surgeon just listed my co-morbidities and the various diets that I have tried (no documentation of dates or weight lost) and I was approved. JR, open RNY 7/17, down 37 pounds, 8/6
   — John Rushton

September 4, 2002
New Start = silly people that dont have any idea what they are talking about. Sorry, Im a bit opinionated regarding New Start.
   — RebeccaP

September 5, 2002
I had problems with Aetna, too. They wanted a two year history of doctor supervised weight loss attempts. I only had one real doctor supervised attempts for a couple of months during the last two years but I had many unsupervised plans like slim-fast and nutrisystem. HOWEVER, I did compile a list of all the supervised diets, prescription medications, weightloss plans (nutrisystem), slim-fast, overeaters anon., etc. that I had been on for the past SIX YEARS. (This was not their required years of past history, but I made a point to show them a large amount of time to show them MY history.) I noted how long I was on each program or medication and the results along with my weight before and after each attempt. I told them that since I had failed with each previous attempt on medications, that I was not going to go on the medication again which was why I only had one supervised attempt during the last two years. They were going to deny approval until I supplied them with my list. The list worked and I was approved the follwing day. Aetna does authorize the surgery. You just need to keep on top of everything you and your doctor send to them. Also, talk to supervisors if member service reps don't give you the answers you need. I even spoke with the pre-cert department, even when I was told I wouldn't be able to do so. Good luck.
   — lezawomack

September 5, 2002

   — Teri D.

September 7, 2002
Aetna? MY FAAAAAAVORITE PEOPLE! (Not). This is what you have to do--I just got my approval in the mail yesterday, on my appeal. You need to find all you doctor records as far back as you can remember...I'm 24 and I gave them stuff from when I was 14... It's not fun because you have to run around and sign releases...but VERY worth it. Then you need to list all the diets, fad, structured, or otherwise (heck make some up) including any pills taken, books you've used. Then you write down your weight for the past 5 years, like on a spreadsheet and sign it. AND the most important step... Aetna needs to have you beg, I'm not joking--there is some skinny little thing reviewing our paperwork that gets something out of making us fatties squirm. SO I wrote this letter telling them I'm sorry about not seeing a dietitcan, but I was embarassed yada, yada... and I faxed it over to them... (the whole pile). That was FOUR days ago.. and poof...here's the approval. I still have my letter so if anyone wants to look at [email protected] ...Its a shame that they made me go through this... but who cares, I'm going to have surgery and they'll continue hating us...
   — Leah S.