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United Healthcare Through Hca Hospitals



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Can anyone share their experience with HCA's plans on United Healthcare? I work for an HCA hospital and am starting the journey towards getting surgery. So far I've been to the seminar, had the initial consult with the surgeon, and have been to the first medical manage weightloss appointment with the dietician. It's all out of pocket so far, because I have such a high deductible. I signed up for the high deductible plan before realizing that bariatric surgery was covered. Its the $1,900.00 deductible with 70/30 after deductible met. Fortunately the hospital stay is covered 100% with HCA hospitals.

So what are any of your stories with UHC (even if you don't have HCA's plan)? Any unforseen hurdles pop up? Did they move quickly? Since I started this month we're thinking I can possibly squeeze in at the end of the year.... fingers crossed.

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Sorry to hear that :( I know they cover bariatric surgery here... they do have the hoops to go through including the 6 month medically managed weight loss attempt :( That blows. I've been BMI of 40+ for MANY years... its not like 6 months will change that.

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If I had the cash I'd self pay in a heartbeat. :-/

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I belive UHC is simply a coordinating company. They have the plans written, and then the employer has the option to change and adjust as they please. That's why each year when it's "open enrollment" the policies can change slightly, not change at all, or change drastically. It all depends on how much the company wants to pay for the coverage. Then when we go to use the coverage and file a claim, the decisions UHC make are based on what the employer has told them. I'm lucky, my company is very generous. UHC will cover my surgery 100% with just a BMI of 35+ w/co-morbities, or 40+ without, and a 5 day coordinated care notice. The only hang up I've had so far is the phych. doctor held on to my evaluation waiting for the doctor's office to request it. I met the phych last month (June)! When I called the insurance they had no information regarding coverage request, the dr's office said they were waiting on the eval, the phych said she had just received an email from the dr's office just before I called and she doesn't send it to them until they request. SOMEONE dropped the ball. Good thing I called! Guess we'll see if this speeds up the process any. Good luck everyone, I know it can be a hassle, and I hope everyone has a positive outcome financially, physically and emotionally.

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I work for HCA and have UHC. Easy route for me. I have 80/20 coverage with $400 deductible with a $3000 out of pocket max. So far I have had the following expenses

EGD

166 to MD

75 to facility

have not recieved a bill from anes yet. expect it to be around 400

10 to radiology for my chest xray reading.

Cardiology Clearance

bill pending should be 20%

Psych Eval

38

Nutrition visits

All 3 totally covered.

VSG and Hiatal Hernia Repair.

Paid 301 up front to md for VSG. HH should be about the same but will be billed for that.

Hospital stay covered 100%

Anesthesia charges still pending.

From my initial consult to surgery was exactly 101 days. I was approved on first submission to UHC. It took approx 1 week to be approved.

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Oh and Tinker - like your signature - also an RN.

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I have UHC - and they approved me within 3 business days - they are awesome!!

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Oh and Tinker - like your signature - also an RN.

Thanks

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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