Question:
Has any one else been told this.....?

I was told by my Dr. Office today that Cigna PPO is requiring a you on a supervised diet if any one else is having this problem please let me know how/what I can do to speed this up. I have already been to Dr. Moorehead and I had my sleep study and the other blood test. I don't want to have to wait a year to have a recent supervised diet to be able to have it done. I will if I have to but I don't understand when my BMI is at 55.8 and I have co-morbities. If anyone knows of a way to get through this please email me. Thanks Catherine    — Catherine P. (posted on April 25, 2000)

April 25, 2000
They are requiring a Year. Sorry for the mistake in the posting.
   — Catherine P.

April 25, 2000
I was told that my insurance (BC/BS of North Dakota) required a three-month supervised diet in the last 12 months. So, I got started on one as soon as I heard about it. It took longer to get the surgery, but I still ended up getting the surgery finally. I'd say, get started today!
   — Cindy H.

April 25, 2000
Did they give you a time period to be on this diet. Sometimes a trial period is just the push they need to approve you. They are just trying to make sure you are a candidate for this procedure. Flow with it.
   — snicklefritz

April 25, 2000
Catherine - I also have Cigna PPO, I got approved after the first letter. My BMI was 50 and my only co-morbid was Asthma and joint pain. I had submitted to my doctor a complete list of diets and weight history since age 12. It was a tedious task to remember all of that, but at least they didn't come back and tell me to try more. Whether that was truly instrumental in approval, I can't say. Something worked though! I had my surgery on 2/18/00. Maybe it's worth a try for you.
   — Christina D.

April 25, 2000
I also have Cigna PPO, and they approved me on my first request without any doctor supervised diets or documentation from my regular doctor. My BMI was 43, and I didn't have any serious co-morbids. Unless they have changed their requirements in the last year, I don't think you will have to worry about the year-long diet requirement.
   — Lynn K.

April 25, 2000
I also have Cigna PPO and I sent them a list of all the diets I have done in the past(Wt Watchers, Optifast, Redux etc,etc.) I got approved within 3 days of them getting my paperwork(see my profile and what I said under insurance stuff for the whole story) I also included a letter stating why I wanted and needed the surgery. I am sure you have been on supervised diets before. Just keep on them. Call them and get a contact person to speak with everytime. They seem to move faster if you don't "disappear" on them. I had no problem with them getting approved. My BMI is 44.7 Good Luck
   — Valerie B.

April 26, 2000
Hi! I also live in your area and am using Dr. Marema. I to have Cigna, but HMO I was told yesterday that I would need a letter of Medical Necessity from my PCP and a prior one year diet history signed by my PCP. So I think you could go by last year. I have my appointment with Dr. Moorehead in two weeks. I am having trouble getting my PCP to do the letter, because I am new with him and Cigna, but I won't give up. Dr. Marema's office said if I could not get my PCP to write it, to get any Dr. to write it. So good luck to both of us. Maybe we will get approved about the same time and will get a surgery date.
   — Barbara S.

April 26, 2000
Hi Catherine, I also have CignaPPO and my doctor turned in all my past attemps to loose weight and the most recent was over a year ago and Cigna excepted it. Call Cigna & talk to your rep personaly. They were wonderful to deal with, they had an answer for every question I had with in 24hrs. You can also do this by e-mail. Thier E-mail is www.cigna.com Good Luck!
   — BECKY M.