Question:
Which to choose? PPO or DPP?

I am beginning on the road to weight loss surgery and have an appointment with Dr. Malcolm Robinson at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston on 2/28. In the meantime, my company is having open enrollment and I have to decide between the Cigna PPO and the Cigna DPP plans. Do any of you have any recommendations on which is more likely to approve weight loss surgery? The DPP plan is significantly less expensive, but I will definitely opt for the PPO plan if there is a higher likelihood of approval. BTW, I am 5'4", 338 pounds and have a BMI of 60. Health problems include hypertension, sleep apnea and osteoarthritis of both knees. Thank you so much.    — Karen W. (posted on February 16, 2000)

February 16, 2000
I have CIGNA PPO, and had no trouble getting approval. The main thing to be sure of before you choose a policy is that it doesn't have any exclusion for Weight loss surgery or treatment of morbid obesity. As long as there is no exclusion, I think CIGNA PPO would be very likely to approve you. I don't know about the DPP. Maybe someone else can give you some info on that one.
   — Lynn K.

February 16, 2000
Hi Karen .... Go to the "Research Insurers" page on this site and click on your state. There is a whole list of insurers that members have dealt with in the past, includingBC/BS. You can also call your surgeon's office to see if they have a suggestion based on past experience. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you!
   — Martha O.

February 16, 2000
By way of clarification, I live in MA and there is no Cigna information on the Massachusetts board. I have followed your suggestions however and contacted my physician directly. Hopefully he will have some experience with this insurer. Thank you so much for your help.
   — Karen W.