I work at AT&T in Missouri and UHC covered my gastric sleeve. They require a 5 year weight history and a psych evaluation. My surgeon sent the info in on Friday at 5pm and I called UHC on Monday at 7am and they already approved me! I had a co-worker who was approved in 1 business day as well. My total to the hospital was $222, which $40 of that was a co-pay. I paid my surgeon a $200 program fee and $20 co-pay for office visit prior to surgery. I was able to get all of this reimbursed from my health savings account. Usually they won't reimburse anything weight related however my surgeon wrote a letter that I had a medical condition of obesity and that I had to sign a consent to take supplements for life so they are also reimbursing me for my vitamins, protein, calcium, etc too! I love my UHC plan!

I work at AT&T in Missouri and UHC covered my gastric sleeve. They require a 5 year weight history and a psych evaluation. My surgeon sent the info in on Friday at 5pm and I called UHC on Monday at 7am and they already approved me! I had a co-worker who was approved in 1 business day as well. My total to the hospital was $222, which $40 of that was a co-pay. I paid my surgeon a $200 program fee and $20 co-pay for office visit prior to surgery. I was able to get all of this reimbursed from my health savings account. Usually they won't reimburse anything weight related however my surgeon wrote a letter that I had a medical condition of obesity and that I had to sign a consent to take supplements for life so they are also reimbursing me for my Vitamins, Protein, calcium, etc too! I love my UHC plan!

Congrats Imagine! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a quick approval with my UHC plan when my paperwork is submitted next month. I forgot about the thing with the vitamins not being covered thru HSAs/FSAs. I'm going to definitely get something from the doc so I can use my FSA for supplements too. That's my little medical life saver. Did you have the 6month diet/counseling requirements?

Hi Mary! My UHC plan did NOT require the 6 month diet. On my paperwork for the Dr I had to write down all my attempts at weight loss but they were not all documented by a physician. For Instance, I wrote I tried Alli, metabolife, acai berry/colon cleanse diet, weight watchers, etc...I wrote it all down. I'm not sure if they submitted that sheet to my insurance or not. Now I know each UHC plan is different depending on your employer. I'm not sure if UHC doesnt require the 6 month diet period or if my particular UHC didn't. I actually had good luck with UHC when I called about having surgery. They told me exactly what they required. I believe it was called the Care Coordination department I spoke with. I told them I'm thinking about having this surgery, what are the requirements. I wish you the best of luck. I know how stressful this part of the process can be. I'm not sure what kind of surgery you are considering but UHC starting covering the gastric sleeve at the end of 2009. They are one of the very few to cover it, if not the only. I was going to get gastric bypass until I learned they covered the sleeve. I had my gastric sleeve done on March 22 and I feel great. Good Luck!!

I have Kaiser, and they covered it. They have a very good bariatric program out here in CA.