parisluver

This doesn't sound right. I would contact the billing department of the hospital and explain what the coordinator said to you. Then I would call your insurance company. Ask for everything in writing. Ask the coordinator to provide all the charges and fees to you in writing. Hospitals are extorting money from people left and right. It just isn't right and is a major reason our health care is skyrocketing.

I have cigna and even though I was supervised by my doctor for almost 2 years - because I didn't go to the doctor EVERY MONTH they wouldn't approve me. I missed a couple months within their 6 month requirement. Also, be careful that you get a good nutritionist/dietician. Mine was awful. She put in her report that I wasn't eating like I was already on the lapband, so therefore, I wasn't ready. I knew that I was months away from being approved by insurance so, of course, I wasn't eating like I was on the lapband already. I told her if I could eat like that every day then I wouldn't NEED the lapband. She was a fruitloop. Anyway, it took about two years - my surgeon had to go through Allergan's Obesity Law Advocacy group and they challeneged Cigna. It took TWO times to get it to go through. I have a 36 BMI but a lot of co morbidities. CIGNA doesn't want to pay for anything so you have to follow their rules very closely. Good luck!

I would certainly challenge the hospitals fees. Over $11,000 for pre-op? What did they do? Were you admitted? Hospitals are NOTORIUS for overcharging. They have contracts with insurance companies but gouge people who are paying cash unless they negotiate. I'm still waiting to hear from my surgeon's office to determine what my out of pocket will be. I have Cigna and the max is $2000 for the year. So it won't be more than that.

Congrats on your approval. Mine took a year as well. Just found out last weekend. Now if I can get my surgeons office to call me back so I can schedule the surgery. Good luck.

I keep reading about the pre-op diet. My doctor doesn't require it. I know it is to shrink the liver. Anyone else know the reason? I have a lower BMI. Could that be why? Just confused.

Hi Everyone, It looks like I will be a March Bandster as well. Just got my insurance approval letter on Saturday (took a year with CIGNA), boy did they put me through the hoops. I called the surgeon's office this morning and the office gal was busy scheduling other surgeries so she is going to call me tomorrow. I'm not telling anyone I'm having the surgery. I also plan on only taking 3-4 days vacation as work is very precarious right now and we may be having lay-offs later (another reason to do this while I still HAVE health insurance). Reason I am having the surgery is HBP, diabetes, high cholesterol. I'm 5'5" 209lbs. I had gotten down to 201 before Xmas but have been stress eating like crazy this month. Nice to see others will be in March as well! good luck to all!!

I'm not telling anyone. Just trying to figure out how to get to hospital and back without asking for a ride. This is the hard part.

It just depends on your insurance as stated by above posts. You have to follow their procedures to the letter to get approved. Some are easy some are hard. Mine was difficult to say the least. Took a year to get approval.

I got my approval letter after TWO appeals with Cigna. The Obesity Law Center did the appeals for me for no charge - Allergan pays this fee. This process took almost a year. I had missed my six month weight loss because my months weren't exactly consecutive - I actually had 8 mos but missed a month inbetween so they were going to make me start all over again. Plus my nutritionist/psychologist said I wasn't ready because I wasn't eating like I had the lapband yet. (?) Anyway, now I have to call the doctor to set up a date. This is getting to be real now. Took long enough!

I've been trying to do this for almost two years. I've done the 6 month recommended diet but I missed a month (not consecutive) so I was denied. Now I am going through an appeal process -- first one was denied by Cigna. I also had a bad psychologist who kept asking me if I was currently eating like I had the band - duh..how can I when I don't know exactly how it's going to feel and I told her I was months away from actually getting it -- so she didn't write a favorable report for me - saying I wasn't "ready" because I hadn't already changed my eating habits. So Cigna didn't want to approve me based on that. I am a 34 BMI, HBP, (2 meds) cholesterol meds, Type II diabetes (on high dose meds)...so I am a good candidate and my doctor thinks so as well. I'm so pissed at Cigna - also had issues with them for other family members. Anyone else going through Cigna hell?

I went to a well known doctor in West LA. His office told me he accepts Cigna as full payment. After going for my initial visit I received a bill for $350 - Cigna paid $95. They are not a Cigna provider in the true sense - they only accept it as 70% pay...they did not tell me this. Don't you think they should have told me this when I asked them if they accepted Cigna? I had talked to another doctor closet to me who said they would take Cigna but I would have to pay an additional $6000 as Cigna doesn't pay the doctor "enough".....I even told the LA doctor this story and they laughed and said they'd take all his business...what crooks..I was so pissed With that said...does anyone know a southern cal doctor who will take cigna as FULL payment for lapband? Thanks

I love hearing about your new life...I am just inquiring about this process and you started close to my weight .. (213)... and your goal is where I'd like to be someday.... I can honestly see how you would gain so much more confidence in yourself...amazing how that happens isn't it? Even though I am overweight I still travel quite a bit...but definitely don't have the energy and stamina that I used to have. I'm looking forward to gaining that back with the lost weight!:clap2:

Does anyone know if you still have to wait the 6 months with Cigna even with comorbidities? My doctor has been documenting my weight for the past five years with remarks about wls, but nothing consistent. More so in the past year, however. So I'm afraid they are going to make me go through the hoops..

Jenny Any luck with Cigna? I am just starting the process here in Calif. I had breast reduction a few years ago and was told it might be covered then last minute found out my employer had excluded it from their plan...I haven't even really checked to find out if they have an exclusion to their policy...would just be my luck! Hope yours came through!

I have been reading these posts - new to this forum... Just one thought on dating with a new thinner body after lapband..it isn't a guarantee that you will be dating more... I have many single thin girlfriends who don't get asked out.. It's your personality that shines through gals...just keep smiling...