Question:
Looking for recent aprovals in New York by Aetna US Healthcare for RNY

After being denied DS surgery I did alot of soul searching and am happy with my decision to have the RNY. I saw my Dr. yesterday and he said everything is a go for the 24th, and he answered my last minute questions..... I left feeling great. Today I get call from his asst. and she said I just wanted to check the date I have 2 different dates here. Then she began a long speal (don't know where it came from) about you know if they don't approve you in time we will have to change your date, don't want to get you upset but.....then she said Aetna wants 2 full years of diet history etc. (which is not what they told me,) she said I may have problems I was stunned, by what she was saying. Anyone have this kind of problem with recent surgery requests for RNY?    — jane O. (posted on June 3, 2003)

June 3, 2003
Hi, I'm not in New York, but Aetna's requirements are the same regardless of state. You can go to their website and look at the bulletins. They require at least one 6 month Dr. supervised diet within the past 2 years. So, if you did 6 months of weight watchers 1.5 years ago, you'll be fine as long as your Dr. documented it in your chart that you were doing it. They also require a nutritionist/dietician consultation. I just went through this with Aetna and was approved on my first appeal. They denied me the first time because they did not have the documentation on my 6 month Dr. supervised diet. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions about Aetna. I've become quite friendly with them over the past 2 months :)
   — Carolyn M.

June 3, 2003
A friend was denied with Aetna a month or so ago. She then sent in an appeal letter with Weight Watcher documentation from 3 years ago (note that this was not within the last 2 years which is Aetnas requirement). She just got her approval letter. I think that Aetna denies a lot of people on the first try, but if you appeal it, they always seem to approve on the second try. Another factor is what company you work for. I know many people who have Aetna that work for Boeing and got approved within days of their request. Unfortunately it is not so quick for me! I'm in Washington. Good Luck!
   — Sasha A.