Question:
I was just denied by Cigna due to

I was denied by Cigna today due to "lack of medically supervised weight loss attempts". I was on Meridia for 1 month, until one of my Doctors found I was also taking Zoloft. Seems you shouldn't take these two together (Major problems) so I was prescribed Ionamin (PHENTERMINE - part of Fen-phen) but Cigna isn't acknowledging Ionamin as a weight loss drug. ??? I've submitted letters from my doctors (prior to being denied). How do I appeal this?    — missesrita (posted on March 15, 2001)

March 15, 2001
I also had CIGNA and I had no problems. What I told them was that I had tried Weight Watchers, Jenny craig twice and also the diet pills etc. It's just my opinion but they may be thinking you have never tried a diet that showed you how to eat a balanced diet, and I am sure you have. They never asked me for any verification but I could have gotten it. Hope this helps.
   — marlene R.

March 19, 2001
Hi. I have CIGNA PPO and I was approved after sending 2 years of medical records from my PCP. Although I had used Redux which should count as medically supervised, it was prior to those 2 years so was not documented in the records they recieved. Basically all the records confirmed was my weight for the past 2 years and issues with hypertension. Good Luck.
   — Karen F.