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Ok, WELL...it's official....my job completely denied my request to waive their special requirements...so I'm cancelling my insurance with them! Now I have another question.... I currently have UHC. If I cancel my current UHC plan, will I ever be able to purchase a UHC plan on my own and get approved for the band surgery? Is all of that null and void? Will I have to completely re-test again?? Initially UHC was going to approve me because of my BMI being so high (even though I had no co-morbidities), it's just my employer's extra rules that screwed me. Will they see all my previous claims for the testing/lab work that I've done and deny me because I look unhealthy now? If there's anyone out there that understands what I'm saying, please help...thanks in advance!!!!

My friend that was banded last August got stuck the other day. I can't remember what she was eating, but either way it got stuck, she panicked and made herself throw-up...the old-fashioned way...finger down the throat! I was so shocked that she had the courage to even attempt that....how bad can that be for you? I'm not banded yet...but it's just a curiosity...

I'm in a similar position with my employer. The entire time I thought it was UHC denying my surgery but it turns out they were denying it because of extra requirements my employer has. UHC was more than willing to pay for my surgery if my employer didn't have these extra requirements (hypertension and/or diabetes unable to be controlled by meds). So this whole week I've been dealing with the corporate office. The people I'm referred to are really nice and they keep escalating and escalating but heels seem to be dragging or the buck is just being passed around...but at least they haven't said no yet. to everyone here fighting for their right to live a healthier life!!!

Quick question kinda off topic...do any of you guys know what kind of band Dr. Carter uses?

Thanks for kind words and reassurance! That's really sweet of you :shades_smile:....much luck to you on your journey too! I'll keep everyone posted as I hear more...

Not so sure about getting it directly on my butt cheek...why mess up a flawless butt, LOL! I'd definitely do it on my ankle or the inside of my left wrist (my non-hand shaking hand)...

That's good to hear! If you have UHC too, I'm pretty sure the case will be the same for me...but again...still waiting for my corporate office to approve me. Thanks for the info!:biggrin:

I'm also going thru Dr. Carter but I have'nt been banded yet...still fighting to get approved. I am curious though...does he find a way to charge your insurance for fills or are they out of pocket? I read everywhere that fills aren't covered by insurance and then I hear about someone's insurance getting billed for a fill. How do they do it? Also...I was initially going to AIGB in Hurst...they gave fills for free for a year...that was definitely cool but that doc wasn't in my network :biggrin: Anyone know?

Sheila~ Do you happen to know what plan you have thru UHC? Like...Choice or Choice Plus

I know thats gotta be super stressful.... Wanna know how I quit? I got the flu! I had the worst cough and I just absolutely couldn't smoke. By the time I got rid of the bug, it had been 2 weeks. So I just figured why not just quit... I wish you had more time and I'd say go sit in the doctor's office for a few hours...touch everything and maybe let someone cough in your face...LOL, just kidding, that's pretty gross...but you get what I'm saying. Good luck... I know you can do it!!!

I depends on if the exclusion is actually part of the UHC plan you have or if your employer made the rule....like mine.

As of Thursday my plea to waive these extra requirements went to the highest level of whatever part of the benefits department at my job...just waiting to get an answer back....fingers crossed!!! I'm surprised at the amount of support I'm getting from the people at corporate. Everyone is on my side...unfortunately I don't know where things stand with the people that matter...

My friend that was banded says her insurance charges $600 for fills :eek: Of course her insurance is awesome and pays it all, but just thought I'd share because it was freakin' outrageous!

Well, according to my doctors office, if my job didnt have these extra requirements, UHC was going to approve the surgery...which makes it ever MORE frustrating. I have a contact at corporate that I'm waiting for a call back from. I still have a feeling this is going to get dragged out all over the place....fingers crossed though!

Oh trust me! Every step of this mess will be documented here. I find the more I get into this lapband world the more unique my case seems to get...so I'll be sharin'!

Well, like I mentioned before, it's not really UHC that I ended up fighting, it's my employer. I haven't had to use the insurance for much else except for all the testing required for the band so I haven't had to really really fight UHC yet...and hopefully dont have to. But I hear everywhere that UHC is usually the quickest approval for bariatric surgeries. The only thing getting in the way for me way is me being overweight hasn't caused any health problems yet. In a way thats good and in a way that's bad I guess... ..good luck with your son and UHC... I'm sure everything will work out in the end for ya :blushing:

Glad you didn't have any problems...

Definitely good luck to you too on your battle....the whole time I thought it was UHC but it was my freakin job! My case handlers said UHC is the most bariatric friendly insurance so I was like...what the crap! Why am I having such a hard time and no one else seems to.... I feel ya man, most definitely :smile2:

:biggrin: Thanks so much! I was given the number to corporate for my employer. I called and had to leave a message for the lady. Now I'm just waiting again. I SO hope they can overturn this because the approval will be immediate from UHC. No one can say this is the easy way out of anything because sure hasn't been a walk in the park!!! More like a walk through a psychiatric hospital...or at least that's where I'll end up, LOL!

I just found out that my employer has extra requirements that require hypertention and or diabetes to get approved for lapband. The 2 HAVE to be uncontrolled meaning you have to be taking meds for the diseases AND they have to be NOT working!!! Those are my employers rules! My case handler I talked to at the doctor’s office talked to united healthcare and she said if my job didnt have those extra requirements I would've already been approved because my BMI is so high She told me to call HR and benefits and see if they can exclude me from the extra criteria because my BMI is so high. I can’t believe this crap! Also she said whatever we do, don't cancel the UHC insurance. It's supposedly the most bariatric friendly insurance. She said if we cancel and try to go individual using ANY insurance company, I will get denied because my health is so bad. If there is a slim chance of getting approved with any other insurance our premiums would be so high it wouldnt be worth it. My only hope is getting those requirements overturned with my job and or getting another job with UHC as their insurance that doesn’t have those extra stupid requirements. Just thought I’d share….I'm beyond FLAMING P*****!!!!

I'm going through the same crap with UHC as you are... I'm being resubmitted for a THIRD time today...oh yeah....its been a battle, but keep up the confidence. I could've sworn UHC told me diabetes was a co-morbidity and should be an automatic qualifier. I think they just wanna make us fight! Good luck to you!!!

I think you have a great chance :biggrin: Don't take offense to my next statement...but you're lucky for being short! My best friend is about 5" and she lost 30lbs so far and it looks like she's lost 60! Good luck to you!!!!

I believe a stripped down definition of co-morbidity is basically any condition that will end up killing you if your weight isn't reduced. I've had some issues with United Healthcare regarding those lovely things... I don't have any so they won't approve me. Just waiting to appeal. Good luck to you and your band endeavors! Feel free to check out my posts about the issues I've had with UHC recently... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f8/insurance-denied-no-co-morbidities-anyone-else-united-healthcare-53119/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f8/insurance-denied-no-co-morbidities-anyone-else-united-healthcare-53118/

Not to discourage you because this will all depend on the specfic UHC plan you have... I was just denied by UHC (my plan is Choice, not Choice Plus). They required the 5yr history and like you I barely had any records. Just a few OB appointments and some Care Now doctor visits for strep throat. Since I didn't have any co-morbidities, I was denied. Even though my BMI has been at or over 40 for quite some time now. My friend has Choice Plus and supposedly co-morbidities are not a requirement on that plan....its also a more expensive plan. A few co-morbidity examples are diabetes, hypertention, cardio-pulmonary diseases and sleep apnea. Pretty much any disease or health problem that can end up killing you. UHC told me I need to definitely appeal but the fact that I don't have documented info with a doctor that I visited them for a health issue cause by being overweight...I don't have much of a chance. I hate to be a downer but I just want you to have as much info as I wish I had. The doctor thing is about the only thing that has screwed me.... I wish you the best of luck though! Did up ANY and ALL doctor records you can think of where they recorded your weight. **See my other threads about my UHC insurance blunders... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f8/insurance-denied-no-co-morbidities-anyone-else-united-healthcare-53119/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/insurance-denied-no-co-morbidities-anyone-else-united-healthcare-53118/