Question:
Experiences with Optimum Choice Health Insurance

For members living in Maryland. Did anyone use Optimum Choice Individual Coverage for this surgery? If so, I would like to know about your experiences with them. I am considering switching from my present insurance. Any information will be valuable. Thanks.    — liverpool508 (posted on November 13, 2002)

November 13, 2002
I have had OC ins. for years and tried to get approved 4 times and was always denied.... but thanks to the new law in MD if you have large group insurance which mean over 50 employees on the insurance they are required by law to cover it i am now 1 month= post op and this time they approved me in less than one day once i had all my requirments met... good luck and please K.I.T and let me knoe how it goes for you...
   — tamitoez

November 13, 2002
Hi, I have Optimum Choice in Maryland. They had denied my first request for this WLS, due to insufficient clinicial Doctor records documenting 6 months of supervised weight loss attempts. I then sent an appeal letter to them pouring out my heart and the reasons why I NEEDED this life saving surgery. I included every and all attempts I had made at dieting in the past. They then approved my request for the surgery. I am now 5 weeks post-op. Don't give up.
   — Patricia C.

November 15, 2002
Thanks for the information guys. I will look into it. The lady I spoke to at Optimum Choice said that the surgery is not excluded but it has to be medically necessary. Well since I have some comorbidities, I don't know if they will approve. I am self employed and the only one on my insurance coverage. Thanks again.
   — liverpool508