losinit512

After a week full of non-stop battle, Cigna has decided to make right of their error. I can't think you all enough for your comments and suggestions. You all are the best!!

After a week full of non-stop battle, Cigna has decided to make right of their error. I can't think you all enough for your comments and suggestions. You all are the best!!

Whew! I thought it was just me getting frustrated with my scale. I had my 2 week post op on Monday and got the green light to start full liquids. The doctor said that once my calorie intake increases that the weight will come off. I was only getting in 300-400 calories during my 2 week clear liquid stage so I guess we'll see how it goes. I feel like I'm constantly reminding myself to eat these days. Why couldn't that have happened years ago??

Cloud nine is an understatement, haha!! I was out to lunch with my son and was starting to feel defeated but I couldn't make myself order anything unhealthy. I'm so glad I stuck to my guns because right when they brought our food out, the phone rang with THE call. I'm so excited!

After a week full of non-stop battle, Cigna has decided to make right of their error. I can't think you all enough for your comments and suggestions. You all are the best!!

I'm so happy for you!! I'm glad you decided to fight.

Hi everyone,
First off, I would like to apologize for the length of this post, but I'm at the end of my rope here and SO upset!! Second, if anyone has ever been through something like this please feel free to add your input.
Like a lot of you I've never been so motivated and excited in my life for my upcoming surgery. My husband's employer has CIGNA insurance. They have never covered bariatric surgery until what I thought was this year. In prior years they had our plan documents on their website so you were able to see the specifics of what was covered and what was excluded. We had many changes this year but for some reason they have never put this detailed information up on either the employee website or the CIGNA website this year. Needless to say, I contacted CIGNA for this information on more than one occasion. FINALLY, I received information in the mail with very detailed information saying that weight loss surgery WAS covered. Imagine my happiness!! I even contacted CIGNA via phone to verify this and it was confirmed as covered. I started all of my paperwork and submitted it to my doctor's office. The doctor's office ALSO contacted CIGNA and they were given an approval of coverage for the surgery and a reference code for the call. The requirements were for 3 months of doctor supervised weight management along with the usual psychological evaluation, high BMI, sleep apnea (check), diabetes (check), high blood pressure (check), etc. Therefore, my journey began and I stuck to the program like crazy.
I went in this past Monday for my final doctor's visit and they submitted my paperwork to CIGNA. My claim was immediately denied by CIGNA saying that weight loss surgery is not a covered benefit. If you could only see the look of despair on my face. The doctor's office informed CIGNA that my surgery is scheduled for June 23rd and that I have done absolutely everything required. CIGNA told the doctor's office that they have given the case to their supervisor and that my doctor's office would have to submit an appeal (IN WRITING, which will only slow down matters). My husband also contacted the HR benefits manager who was livid that this had happened. She informed him that they have never covered bariatric surgery and that there is NO appealing this situation.
I am having a very hard time believing that nothing can be done, especially on the part of CIGNA's more than one error. They informed my doctor's office that the employee who told them that I was approved would be reprimanded - do they honestly think that is going to make me feel any better? What about the others who sent me the information in the mail and by phone? I contacted CIGNA on Tuesday and said that they apparently have problems with training their employees. This is not something that can be brushed off as a slight error! CIGNA needs to pay for their mistakes!
One other thing of mention is that CIGNA has paid ALL of my claims regarding this preparation for the surgery, including my BARIATRIC Vitamins at 100%!! I just don't get it.
I don't know what to do with myself at this point. I am just absolutely heartbroken and numb. I've worked so hard for this and to have the rug pulled out from underneath me at the last minute is just wrong.
Thanks for reading and your understanding!
losinit512

I was sleeved on June 23rd. My instructions are two weeks on clear liquids. Then I have two weeks on full liquids. Only then do I progress to two weeks of pureed, then two more weeks of soft foods. So, that means it will be 8 weeks before I have real food.
Two things.....1) I'm not hungry. The surgery has been a wonderful thing for me. 2) This is my new life. I would never have put myself through major surgery to not stick to what my surgeon has told me to do.
I read and prepared and made myself knowledgable about how this works. I'm so excited about the future. I figure I can get through a few weeks of liquids to get to the good part of less (or no) knee pain, of feeling better, physically and emotionally, etc.
Hang in there. You can do this!

Cloud nine is an understatement, haha!! I was out to lunch with my son and was starting to feel defeated but I couldn't make myself order anything unhealthy. I'm so glad I stuck to my guns because right when they brought our food out, the phone rang with THE call. I'm so excited!

After a week full of non-stop battle, Cigna has decided to make right of their error. I can't think you all enough for your comments and suggestions. You all are the best!!

Cloud nine is an understatement, haha!! I was out to lunch with my son and was starting to feel defeated but I couldn't make myself order anything unhealthy. I'm so glad I stuck to my guns because right when they brought our food out, the phone rang with THE call. I'm so excited!

After a week full of non-stop battle, Cigna has decided to make right of their error. I can't think you all enough for your comments and suggestions. You all are the best!!

THAT IS SO FREAKING AWESOME! You must be on cloud nine!!!

After a week full of non-stop battle, Cigna has decided to make right of their error. I can't think you all enough for your comments and suggestions. You all are the best!!

Freaking Terrible ! I know you will win your fight too and I am sending you good thoughts and kick a_ _ vibes ! What I have re-learned and confirmed in this process is that nothing this important and worthwhile is usually easy and it will be that much sweeter for you. After having an amazingly easy and pain free surgery I am filled with such grattitude even to my horrid insurance company and all the rest has fallen away even as I continue to have to ride them since they are not paying the claims lol. Fight on sister, wishing safe and healthy travels

You're so welcome. Keep up the good fight!

I have no advice or experience with even a similar situation.. just wanted to tell you to keep strong and keep fighting. I can't imagine the heartbreak you must be experiencing, but stay strong! I hope and pray that you are able to have surgery after all the misleading information you have received. Thoughts and prayers are with you during this struggle!

There is someone else on these forums who went thru the same situation. I'm not sure who their insurance carrier is. They successfully appealed citing the numerous instances of false information on the part of the insurance company.
Cigna itself can cover it. It doesn't have to affect the employer's rating or costs.
Appeal and keep appealing up the chain of command. Appeal to your state insurance commissioner if necessary.

Hi everyone,
First off, I would like to apologize for the length of this post, but I'm at the end of my rope here and SO upset!! Second, if anyone has ever been through something like this please feel free to add your input.
Like a lot of you I've never been so motivated and excited in my life for my upcoming surgery. My husband's employer has CIGNA insurance. They have never covered bariatric surgery until what I thought was this year. In prior years they had our plan documents on their website so you were able to see the specifics of what was covered and what was excluded. We had many changes this year but for some reason they have never put this detailed information up on either the employee website or the CIGNA website this year. Needless to say, I contacted CIGNA for this information on more than one occasion. FINALLY, I received information in the mail with very detailed information saying that weight loss surgery WAS covered. Imagine my happiness!! I even contacted CIGNA via phone to verify this and it was confirmed as covered. I started all of my paperwork and submitted it to my doctor's office. The doctor's office ALSO contacted CIGNA and they were given an approval of coverage for the surgery and a reference code for the call. The requirements were for 3 months of doctor supervised weight management along with the usual psychological evaluation, high BMI, sleep apnea (check), diabetes (check), high blood pressure (check), etc. Therefore, my journey began and I stuck to the program like crazy.
I went in this past Monday for my final doctor's visit and they submitted my paperwork to CIGNA. My claim was immediately denied by CIGNA saying that weight loss surgery is not a covered benefit. If you could only see the look of despair on my face. The doctor's office informed CIGNA that my surgery is scheduled for June 23rd and that I have done absolutely everything required. CIGNA told the doctor's office that they have given the case to their supervisor and that my doctor's office would have to submit an appeal (IN WRITING, which will only slow down matters). My husband also contacted the HR benefits manager who was livid that this had happened. She informed him that they have never covered bariatric surgery and that there is NO appealing this situation.
I am having a very hard time believing that nothing can be done, especially on the part of CIGNA's more than one error. They informed my doctor's office that the employee who told them that I was approved would be reprimanded - do they honestly think that is going to make me feel any better? What about the others who sent me the information in the mail and by phone? I contacted CIGNA on Tuesday and said that they apparently have problems with training their employees. This is not something that can be brushed off as a slight error! CIGNA needs to pay for their mistakes!
One other thing of mention is that CIGNA has paid ALL of my claims regarding this preparation for the surgery, including my BARIATRIC Vitamins at 100%!! I just don't get it.
I don't know what to do with myself at this point. I am just absolutely heartbroken and numb. I've worked so hard for this and to have the rug pulled out from underneath me at the last minute is just wrong.
Thanks for reading and your understanding!
losinit512