Question:
I just joined Cigna and i am already going to Dr's appts before i get my ID cards

am i setting myself up for a denial? I am getting married Nov 9th 2002 and i have been talking to my PCP about surgery for a long time and she agrees. she has already refferd me to a surgeon (in network) I have a sleep study scheduled and have some health problems. Should i have laid low and waited until i have insurance for a while?    — roxxyblue72 (posted on November 2, 2002)

November 2, 2002
I would at least think that if the day your benefits kick in that you would be ok, even if you don't have your cards yet. No time like the present. If I knew I was covered I'd be doing the same thing you are. If you are going and your benefits have not begun, though you are enrolled, you might end up having to pay out of pocket for those doctor appointments. good luck.
   — Natalie M.

November 2, 2002
DON'T LAY LOW WITH CIGNA YOU HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE FROM THE START. iT TOOK ME A WHOLE YEAR TO GET THIS FAR AND AM HAVING SURGERY ON 04-NOV-02 AND THEY NEVER ONCE DENIED ME. BUT YOU HAVE TO BE AGRESSIVE AND DON'T SHOW THEM YOUR WEAK SPOTS SO I WOULD START RESEARCHING WHAT YOUR GOING TO WRITE ABOUT YOUR SELF ON THE ASPECTS OF YOUR DIET HISTORY MEDICAL BACKGROUND FAMILY HISTORY AND PERSONAL BATTLES WITH WEIGHT. GET NOTES FROM DIETS CENTER YOU HAVE BEEN TOO. bECAUSE THEY DO REQUIRE AT LEAST 3 SUPERVISED DIET IN THE PAST 5 YEARS AND ONE OF THEM HAS TO BE RECENTLY WITHIN THE YEAR. THERE REAL STINKERS ABOUT THAT SO BE READY TO PLAY HARD BALL. ANY QUEATION JUST EMAIL ME [email protected] i GOT APPROVED RIGHT AWAY WITH VERY FEW CO-MORBS.
   — sheri B.

November 2, 2002
I will be on Cigna PPO starting in Jan. 2003. I am having a sleep study as well. But my insurance now is paying for that. My PCP has a surgeon in mind for me to go to. So as soon as it turns Jan 1st I am scheduling a consultation w/him to set up a surgery date. It doesn't matter if we have only had them for 1 day or 10 years they are still obligated to cover us. SO GO FOR IT!!!!! I'm glad you can get it all started NOW. I have to wait another 2 months:( I wish you the best!!!!!!
   — blank first name B.

November 2, 2002
No, you aren't setting yourself up for denial. You just need to know ahead of time that they will put you through the hoops. I am in a similar situation. I got married to Cigna (oops and my husband <w>) in Jan 2001. I requested wls in March 2002. Because they didn't have any of my prior medical records, they are requesting ALL of them. Of course, it took them 6 months to request them. Like the other gal said, don't lay low with Cigna. They are nice people but they tend to lose paperwork and give you the runaround. It took me a long time to figure this out. Good luck! Let me know if I can be of help. I am still waiting on an answer from them but my Dr tells me that 9 out of 10 times they approve on the first letter. Let's hope I'm not the 1%. :)
   — daytymer

November 2, 2002
Did you have insurance prior to this? Creditible coverage applies when the time from your last insurance and the new insurance hasn't lasped over 90 days. If you didn't, then you may have the problem of "pre-exsisting condition". It all depends on the insurance. If you do qualify for creditible coverage (as I did), they cannot consider morbid obesity as pre-exsisting. This also applies for any of condition you have been treated for (or not). I hope this made sense.....I only had my insurance about 3 weeks when I started my WLS journey and I had NO problems getting approved (and I still can't believe it!!!)....Best of luck to you!....Karen (lap rny- 9/20/02- down 56 pounds!)
   — karmiausnic