Hi everyone! Completely new here! I just wanted to know if anyone else was having a hard time getting the letter of necessity from their pcp? I have United health care and I asked the surgeons office to submit the insurance packet without it (doing that today keep your fingers crossed) but I wanted to know if anyone else has had issues getting the letter and if there's a chance for approval without it?

My insurance (cigna) denied til they received the letter from my pcp. Not sure about others. Good luck!

Unfortunately if your insurance requires it you must have one. They'll deny you otherwise.

I know others who've changed PCP because theirs wouldn't write the letter of necessity.

Ugh...that's what I was afraid of thank you for the answers

My doctor (PCP) was very compliant. He wrote that it was a medical necessity. My insurance needed that letter before I would be qualified.

Also, my BMI was 40.5 when I started my BMI is 32.6 now if I calculated correctly. I was borderline on the BMI factor so I was sweating it out but my doctor got that letter into my insurance right sway.

My PCP wasn't initially supportive but then my Cardiologist actually asked me if I ever considered WLS so I told him I have & very seriously recently but my PCP seemed less then in favor of this route. So he put in his notes that he discussed this as a viable option for me. I then went back to PCP & she sang a different tune!!!

My PCP wasn't initially supportive but then my Cardiologist actually asked me if I ever considered WLS so I told him I have & very seriously recently but my PCP seemed less then in favor of this route. So he put in his notes that he discussed this as a viable option for me. I then went back to PCP & she sang a different tune!!!

Great Post! This just goes to show, there are many ways to overcome a less than supportive PCP.

Does your PCP just not want to give you one? That totally sucks....is changing PCP's an option? It just seems so ridiculous for him/her not to give you the letter......I'm so sorry

My insurance (cigna) denied til they received the letter from my pcp. Not sure about others. Good luck!

Ditto

My pcp told me "if I drop you in the desert for 10 days and don't feed you you'll lose the weight..so I don't think you'll need the surgery" ugh he's a butthole

Time for a new pcp!

I went with a new pcp when I was going through the process because the one I was with was unwilling to look at wls as a viable option. I also got a letter from my pediatric doctor (I was 23 at time of surgery) because he had been my Dr throughout childhood and had watched me struggle as a teen to lose weight with no avail.

If your Dr who you're paying is unwilling to ve supportive in the way you wish, hire a new one.

Your PCP doesn't sound very supportive, they sound like a total ignoramus! If you aren't able to get their support you really should find someone who will! Good Luck!

Thank you all for the support! I think I may have to find a new Dr.

I am also in the same boat my pcp was very nadty towards me treated me like a child so i found another pcp i see them in aug i hope to have the surgery by jan 2014

Just wanted to touch base and let everyone know I got approved today!! Surgery date August 27th!!