Question:
I have United Healthcare choice plus POS am I wasting my time?

Hello again everyone. I was wondering if anyone thinks I am wasting my time with this company. Yes I do have an exclusion and I have several comorbities and they have denied me the first time and on the appeal. Should I write another one or just give up and except my fate? I just feel like I'll never be blessed with this surgery. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks    — Angela M. (posted on February 12, 2001)

February 12, 2001
DON'T GIVE UP!!!! Is your insurance through your employer or a spouse's employer? Are they considered to be self insured? The reason I ask is because I, too, had an exclusion in my policy and I approached my employer. I have worked for the same place for 20 years and they really came through for me. It wasn't the fact that I had been there so long but the fact that my doctor convinced them that this was a matter of life or death - especially with my comorbidities. I also provided my employer with some ADA information and how discriminatory this exclusion was. Try it and see if that doesn't help. Good luck!
   — Sharon R.

February 12, 2001
I have United Healthcare/MEDTAC PPO. And I was approved after they requested more medical info from me. Try again, and ask the doctors office if your insurance company is clueing them into why they are denying your request? IF you can find that out, you can get the right answer for the insurance office. Good Luck
   — Kimberly N.

February 12, 2001
I also have United HealthCare POS. After I got all the things the doctor wanted me to do: Psyc evaluation, sleep study, etc. the clinic sent my paperwork off to United and I was approved after one week. I uderstand this insurance is one of the best that will approve this surgery.
   — Betty Todd

February 12, 2001
I had United Healthcare POS and had no problem getting approved. I was approved after the first letter. I had sleep apnea and joint pain as comorbidities. But...I DID have to have my primary care physician approve the surgery beforehand AND I had to go through all the pre-op screenings. I think it also helped that my surgeon's office has lots of experience dealing with the folks at United Healthcare. Good luck and don't give up!
   — Heidi S.

February 19, 2001
If you get apaproved by UHC, you will need to have it done OPEN and not LAP. They recently have taken a stand that they consider Lap to be "experimental". I have provided names of people that they approved for lap but was told they were not aware it was lap when they approved it. Dr. Alverdy has several other patients, beside myself, that have been denied lap. My doctor refuses to do it open because he feels it is not in my best interest. I have filed a complaint with the Dept of Ins in Illinois, and a congressman I wrote to sent the Dept of Ins a letter to resolve asap. I am currently waiting for the deadline of 2-22-01 for them to reply. If you opt for OPEN you should be OK
   — Janelle H.

May 19, 2001
Hello, I work for united health care and know that if there is a written exclusion, it will not be covered. That exclusion is an option chosen by your employer.
   — [Anonymous]