Question:
Does anyone know if Aetna PPO will take Weight Watchers as pre-op weight loss

   — sadiebelle (posted on July 28, 2008)

July 28, 2008
I had Aetna PPO and they needed a 5 year weight history and a 3-month prepatory program, which my surgeon does, and then they approved me in less than 12 hours. Just remember that even though I had the same insurance, all plans are different. Give them a call and see what they require. Good luck. Paula Chumbley
   — Paula K.

July 28, 2008
I have Aetna but not PPO and most people I have talked to with Aetna they require either a 6 month non-surgical with a PCP or a 3 month non-surgical with a Surgeon and it is now a 3 year history and from my understanding that is Aetna's guidelines in general if you go to www.aetna.com and type in bariatric surgery it will give what they want but then you have to see if your company has exclusion or more stipulations to come by.
   — bridgadean

July 28, 2008
i think that the weight loss plan has to be physician supervised and i don't think ww counts. i have aetna and took the 3 month class with my surgeons office and don't regret it. it was a great class.
   — buttrfli1

July 28, 2008
I have Aetna PPO new jersey. They wanted a 5 year weight history, which means my family doctor (and my previous family doctor) going back 5 years wrote a simple letter/note stating my weight for each year, going back 5 years. I contacted my doctor and my old doctor and they were happy to write that and mailed it to me. Aetna also wanted proof of previous weight loss efforts. I really didn't have any "proof" so I told the surgeon what I had tried previously, (Overeater's Anonymous, Slim-Fast, Atkins Diet, Diets supervised or recomended by my family Doctor, diet plans I had made-up myself, prescription drugs Fen-Phen). The Nurse for my surgeon wrote a letter to the insurance company indicating the reasons why I needed the surgery for my health (such as high blood pressure, borderline diabetes, joint pain, and so on) and she mentioned the various previous weight loss efforts such as the diets and so on, (without actually "proving" I had done those things) and she sent the 5 year weight history provided by my family doctors..... I got approved!
   — Gina S.

July 28, 2008
I forgot to mention, Aetna required me to go to a Nutritionist for 3 months before they would consider approval, which I did, it was not a big deal...
   — Gina S.

July 29, 2008
I was a WW client for a year before my surgery. Under my plan, it did not qualify. Aetna required a 3 month PHYSICIAN monitored DIET and EXERCISE program with MONTHLY visits. Make sure your surgeon's office has copies of your WW cards. Thy can use this as supporting documents of your weight loss history for your authorization. -- Tom in Ohio
   — ohbearly