Question:
My BMI is appr 75, my insurance is Cigna PPO, What do you think my chances are?

About 2 years ago I had been referred to a doctor back in Indianapolis Indiana but my Insurance carrier, at that time ws BCBS, denied it. The doctor wouldn't fight it or anything. I didn't have the finances to fight it or to pay to have the surgery done myself. It really depressed me. Now I have moved and I keep gaining and and finding it difficult to do more things. My new insurance is Cigna PPO. I'm not sure what their policy states about this. My BMI is up to about 75 I'm not sure how much I weigh because I can't find a scale that weighs over 350 I'm just guessing at about 400. But I'm concerned about being let down again. I was depressed for months the last time I was denied. Please advise me anyone?!    — pregnant (posted on February 1, 2000)

February 1, 2000
Karla, Good Luck on your WLS journey. If you have problems with your insurance, try contacting Walter Lindstrom at www.obesitylaw.com Also I started above 400 and was able to weigh in the laundry room at the local hospital. Good Luck & God Bless Angel
   — Angel G.

February 1, 2000
Hi Karla, I think you have an excellent chance of being apprroved by CIGNA PPO based on your BMI alone. This is, if you individual policy doesn't have an exclusion for weight loss surgery. I have CIGNA PPO, and they approved me based on a BMI of 43 with no serious co-morbidities. If you are still in Indiana, check out Dr's Jones and Inman in Indianapolis who are both in the CIGNA ppo network. If you live somewhere else now, you can find the network list at www.cigna.com. You will have to look under general surgery there since they don't have a listing for bariatric surgeons. Once you get a list of all the general surgeons in your area from cigna, you can see if any of the bariatric surgeons on this web site match any of the surgeons on CIGNA's list. Good luck!
   — Lynn K.

February 1, 2000
Go to your Personnel Office and ask to read a copy of the Cigna policy. Go to www.clos.net and see what Dr. Robert Rutledge offers. He is a remarkable doctor; remarkable man. He responds to your e-mail: [email protected] His office is in Durham, NC.
   — Dee R.

February 2, 2000
I have Cigna hmo of Tx they do cover it as long as it is medically necessary. call your cigna 800 # and ask about it.
   — cristy P.