Question:
Info about United Healthcare Choice Plus HMO/not a question

Hi all! First of all, GL to everyone still seeking approval for this surgery. I feel very strongly that it should be made available to everyone who qualifies. I just wanted to let everyone know that if you are dealing with or thinking of dealing with United Healthcare, please make sure that you will be working with the PPO policy. I have Choice Plus HMO and they have an iron clad exclusion. I know that there are a million different policy types, but I just want to debunk the myth that UHC approves everyone, they do not. I have run circles with them and if you have any questions, feel free to email me. Good Luck to all!!!!    — SweetDragonfly (posted on July 23, 2003)

July 23, 2003
harder. It may be your COMPANY that put the exclusion. My company offers both options of UHC. I went for the PPO at 61/2 weeks and my friend went for the HMO version with was only 35/2 weeks - we both were approved immediately. She just had her surgery and the statement was for $33,000 and they paid it all - including the $1500 from her pre-ops. She paid absolutely zero dollars for the whole thing. not any serious comorbs either. No jumping thru hoops. I wish you luck - my surgeon's office says they are the best and quickest to approve regardless of which version. I hope you get a turnaround on that.
   — Donya P.

July 23, 2003
I am currently waiting for approval and I have United Healthcare- the EPO Select version- which I believe is the HMO version- and so far they have covered all the lab work and testing that I have needed to "qualify" me for the surgery. I am not dealing with them directly because I am going through Neweigh is the facilitator for the surgeon and they do all the work with the insurance group for you. I have two co-workers who also received the surgery, one was EPO and one was PPO and both were approved and received full coverage for their surgeries. The only difference was the PPO covered a LAP RNY and the EPO covered only the OPEN RNY....
   — SassySamara

July 23, 2003
I had UHC Choice and my surgery was covered. At the time, I also worked for UHC. Unfortunately they no longer have WLS benefits for thier own employees. (a whole nuther gripe of mine) There are kabillions of UHC policies labled choice or choice plus, whether WLS is covered or not depends entirely on YOUR individual policy. HMO vs PPO or EPO or POS or any other type of policy has nothing to do with WLS coverage. I am sorry your policy does not cover this surgery, I really am. But its posts like this that spread misinformation.
   — RebeccaP

July 23, 2003
Hi sorry to hear that you have had trouble with UHC...I have UHC Select Plus POS...mine was covered totally...but as the other post said it depends on what is in your policy with our employer...you can have two employers use the same insurance company but yet carry different policies so that some things will be covered for one employer and not the other...I have tried to state when I have posted a question about an insurance company to include my employers name so that I can get the scoop for my "policy" per se' ... I hope things get changed for you...dont give up! Rhonda
   — Rhondaroo78