Question:
Getting Aetna to cover the DS instead of the RNY?

Is there anyone out there who has Aetna insurance and been approved for the Gastric Bypass RNY, but has gotten Aetna to cover the Duodenal Switch instead? If so, what did you do to get it done? please help! Roshelle    — roshelle P. (posted on November 18, 2001)

November 18, 2001
Roshelle, Aetna's policies explicitly state that they consider the Duodenal Switch "expiremental" and that they will therefore not cover it. The only way you'd get Aetna to pay for DS is if your employer has ADDED it to the policy with Aetna, something I've never heard of... usually if employers make changes wrt obesity surgery it's to deny it altogether. Sorry.
   — Julia M.