Luvin_Life125

That link is the same policy I have printed. My surgeons office didn't have the newest policy until I sent it to them.

Nothing has been submitted to Cigna yet. I am still working through all of the pre requisites for surgery. I have not read anything about 2 years of medical records being needed. At this point, I will send Cigna just about anything they want to get the surgery approved and scheduled before the end of the year. Did you have to submit 2 years of medical records?

You can also try searching on the united healthcare website "coverage policy bariatric surgery". I also recommend using the provider search and search by type and type in "center of excellence bariatric surgery". Hopefully those search terms will help you find the information you are looking for.

Amazing job!

Good luck! Next stop is The Loser's Bench!

I was just looking into OA last night and hoping a meeting was somewhat close to me. Unfortunately, there isn't a meeting nearby. I am considering the online meetings. I need to get my mental health in line with my physical progress to ensure the long term success. I am not taking any chances of regaining the weight I loose after surgery. I almost think the mental work will be harder than the physical work.

Sorry I didn't mean they would be restricting water. I meant not being physically able to drink enough fluids to keep from being dehydrated.

I would love to go home the same day, but I am worried about dehydration post op. I drink a lot of water normally. Being water restricted will really suck!

Weight today 258.6. Going in the right direction!

Thanks! Do you know if degenerative joint disease of the spine falls under comorbidities?

I have almost met my out of pocket max for the year and want to be certain I can get my surgery done before the end of the year. I have spent a lot of time on the phone with Cigna and reading the summary plan description. I am not taking any chance of missing something or doing something incorrectly. I have questioned the Cigna reps up and down to make sure I am covering all of my bases. You are more than welcome. I am happy to share what I have learned!

I am not sure about the weight Cigna uses. My plan is to lose what I can preoperatively until I get to 40 BMI. If I make it down to a 40 BMi, I will maintain that weight just to be on the safe side. As for the Cigna Center of Excellence- the hospital has to be a Cigna Center of Excellence in. Bariatric surgery if your plan requires the Center of Excellence. To check if it is a bariatric center of excellence, On mycigna.com search "center of excellence" and choose facility When the list of facilities comes up; click on the center of excellence hyper link in each hospital that comes up They will have different specialties listed. You will need to find one with bariatric surgery listed in the center of excellence hyperlink.

You look amazing! I will have to stock up on the Jergins and hope it helps me some. I have had 2 kids and was huge with each pregnancy so it is more of a pipe dream, but a girl can dream. Pilates is supposed to be amazing for strengthening the core and is on my list to try. Thank you so much for being open and honest. You give me hope I may be able to avoid a TT.

Thanks! I love shoes and love a good deal on cute shoes!

Congratulations!! You both have a wonderful and happy life ahead of you!

I LOVE those shoes! Do you mind sharing the details on them?

You look great! I have to ask if your stomach returned to that shape alone? I am worried about all of the extra skin I will have to contend with. I hope my skin will return to a tolerable level of jiggle.

I have just started my 90 day medically managed diet with Cigna. The most important thing you need to do is schedule 4 appointments with your primary care provider. They must each be at least 30 days apart. At each appointment your doctor MUST document: -your weight -your current dietary program AnD -your current physical activity program or exercise program For the current dietary program you must be specific ie: weight watchers or 1500 calorie diet or whatever your program is. It is very important you keep track of you daily food intake (either an app on your phone or even a written food diary). Cigna can request your documentation of your diet before they approve your surgery. For your exercise program you must also make sure your doctor documents it in detail. My doctor has it noted that I am walking 1.5- 2 blocks 2-3 times a day at least 4 days a week. I document my daily physically activity in with my food. I use my fitness pal app and that works well for me. You must make sure to do 4 appointments too. The Cigna policy states 3 appointments at least 30 days apart (>89 days) but you also need to consider that you have to have an initial appointment to start the process. Make sure you look up the Cigna Coverage Policy 0051. This will outline all of the Cigna requirements for approval. I printed the policy out and put it right in the front of my binder for easy referral and to check off as I complete the requirements. You also want to make sure you get a copy of the summary plan description from HR at work. This will outline coverage and any additional requirements your specific policy requires. If your summary plan description has different requirements than the Cigna Coverage Policy 0051, the summary plan description makes the rules! There is one additional thing to watch for with Cigna. My summary plan description requires my surgery be performed at a Cigna designated Center of Excellence. When I first searched for in network bariatric surgeons I found a list of 20 providers within 75 miles of me. (I live in the middle of nowhere) I scheduled an appointment with a surgeon an hour away and was thrilled to get a surgeon that close to home. However, despite all of the in network surgeons in my area, the closest Cigna designated Center of Excellence is a little over 3 hours away. If your summary plan description requires a center of excellence please pm me and I will walk you through finding one because it isn't easy to find. I hope I didn't overwhelm you. If something is not clear, please let me know. I spent many years working in medical billing so this is second nature to me. Keep in touch! You and I will be having surgery close to the same time.

I am looking at the same time frame for my surgery and I agree it seems like forever! I have started my medically supervised diet and have scheduled my psych evaluation, physical therapy evaluation, and my meeting with the surgeon. I am hoping since I have to do all of my waiting over the summer while the kids are out of school, it will go by faster. With 2 boys (7 & 10) home all day, every day, they will definitely occupy my time!

I have just started the 3 month medically supervised pre-op diet required by my insurance. I have started to make lifestyle changes now so the post surgery lifestyle won't be such a shock to the system. I have given up my beloved diet coke for 10 days and finally don't crave it anymore. I walk twice a day. I have now changed out my lunch to a protein shake. I make it with skim milk and 6 ice cubes in my blender and I have a milkshake for lunch every day! I use different extracts for different flavors and also mix in frozen fruit and ground flax seed. I LOVE my lunch treat every day an really look forward to it. I thought I would feel deprived but it is the exact opposite. In 2 weeks I plan on cutting out refined carbs (pasta, refined sugar, white flour based products). And I will regularly be changing my diet and habits as I get closer to surgery. So back to my question, am I the odd person who looks forward to their protein shakes? I love experimenting with flavors and combinations. It will be a long time before I run out of flavor ideas and blending it with ice makes it a real treat!

Hello! I have been researching my insurance coverage of bariatric surgery and Cigna will only cover the procedure at one of their (Cigna's) designated Center of Excellence for Bariatric surgery. I found the closest one which is about 2.5 hours each way. I contacted them and I have to have all appointments with their clinic as far as dietician, psych, etc for a total of 5-7 visits prior to surgery plus the post surgical appointments. I just have to say that sucks big time! I have chronic back pain from an injury over 10 years ago when I was in my early 20's and now also have nerve roots impinged. Driving is sheer torture over 20 minutes, and the hubby cannot take that many days off work just to shuttle me back and forth. Besides the fact he is the only one working and we can not do without his income. Grrr, Sorry, I just had to vent my frustration. Don't get me wrong, I will find a way to make it work because I need to have this surgery in order to get my pain down. I just wish it didn't have to be so far away for that many appointments.

Thanks for the tips! I just emailed the coordinator to see about moving my surgeons appointment to a day or the day before either of my NUT and Psych appointments. My in laws live about 70 miles from the office and it will be easier to stay overnight there than drive all the way home for appointments one day apart. I am really glad I am not doing the band because that would suck making that trip for fills.

I have 2 things in mind for when I get to my goal. The first is a budoir photo shoot for my hubby to thank him for putting up with my craziness followed by a family photo. I have no pictures of myself because I am so self conscious. It helps my sister is a professional photographer and the most non judge mental person I have ever met. She loves doing budoir shoots for all women of any shape and size because she thinks every woman should feel beautiful no matter what! I love that about her. My second reward will be a family trip that is outdoor activities based! I haven't been able to do much with my children because of my weight and chronic back pain. Once my weight is down I want to go canoeing, horseback riding, hiking, rock climbing, and anything else that looks fun. We love to camp so we will find somewhere great to camp with many activities in the area. My surgery will be in late September or early October. I am hoping we will be planning our trip for late summer 2015! Everyone should reward themselves somehow!

Congratulations!

Congratulations!! I can't wait until I am actually not afraid to have my picture taken! Absolutely inspirational.