Question:
Has anyone had approval with United Healthcare?

Hello all! Ok, this is big for me. I need HELP!! I don't know what to do next. I went to one of the free seminars, and filled out paperwork, then found out that my insurance has an exclusion clause, that will not cover anything for obesity. What do I do know? I am scheduled to meet with a surgeon in about a week. Does anyone know of anyone that has been approved eventhough an exclusion clause existed? As of now I have no co-morbidities and I am 26 years old. As most of the members here I have been overweight my entire life and nothing has worked. My mother had WLS about 16 years ago and her brother had WLS about 3 years ago. My insurance is Unithe Healthcare & I live in Arizona. If anyone has any info I would appreciate it greatly. Thanks again.    — Kallie H. (posted on April 12, 2000)

April 12, 2000
If you click on "photos" on this site, then click on "before and after" photos, a list of names will pop up. I'm sorry I can't remember which ones, but 2 or 3 of these folks had UHC. One had great luck, 2 had a struggle, but all were approved. Good Luck!
   — Carrie M.

April 13, 2000
I live in Georgia, but I have United Healthcare and I do not have an exclusion with respect to weight loss surgery. I was approved within a month. I am also an insurance consultant. Are you SURE you have a specific exclusion? Keep us posted.
   — Sonya H.

April 13, 2000
Hi there ... read your exclusions portion of the policy VERY carefully with United! I had United also, and 5 different representatives of their company told me this was covered and only a matter of in network or out of network as I had to travel out of state to have the surgery because there was no one close by. 24 hours before I was due to fly out to have my surgery, United called me and said they'd made a mistake and nothing was covered at all! When I wrote them a VERY strong appeal letter with names, dates and times and what was said in each conversation and threatened to sue them if they did not immediately reverse their decision BACK to covering the surgery, I won my appeal. Had I not had all the documented phone calls with their reps (which incidentally included their medical reviewer!) They would've been justified in not covering my surgery, my policy very specifically included all types of surgery for obesity. Best wishes ... make sure you document everything!
   — Sherrie G.