Question:
My insurance kicks in on oct 1..its AETNA

OPEN CHOICE PPO...i have my group id number 137174... can anyone tell me hoe to find out if this surgery will be covered? I couldnt find anything on their website where i could find out...can anyone help me?    — [Anonymous] (posted on August 3, 2001)

August 3, 2001
Hi - I had surgery May 29th - Had Aetna HMO - not only did they approve it, they did so with the surgeon's office manager over the phone. I received my ltr three days later. My company has since changed insurance but I wish we still had aetna. Good Luck.
   — chance2lv

August 3, 2001
I have Aetna HMO insurance and they are wonderful. I make sure that everytime I call to get something approved I talk to the same person. When I started I had a journal I wrote everything down especially names, dates and phone # of people. The person who I talked to was named Jack, he was wonderful and always followed through. His phone # is 1-800-756-7039. Give him your Id or group # and he looks it up right there and let you know. If they transfer you to another person just ask for Jack and tell them you'll wait. good luck.HOlly
   — Holly D.

August 3, 2001
My Aetna Open PPO kicked in on July 1, 2001. I made all of my appointments prior to my insurance date in order to save time (where I live the best surgeons have a 4 to 5 month waiting list). Check out Aetna's website www.aetnaushc.com or go directly to the Policy Coverage Bulletin at www.aetnaushc.com/cpb_alpha.html#0. The surgery IS covered if it is medically necessary. You must be at least 100 lbs overweight with some comorbs. The people at Aetna seem to not have a clue with what is going on most of the time--missing faxes, wrong fax numbers, transfers to wrong departments etc...but all of the people that I have spoken with are very nice about everything. Make sure that you find out in advance what Aetna wants from you before you have a surgery date--it could take months to get everything together! Good Luck to you!
   — jenn2002