All of my paperwork was sent into UHC on Tuesday last week. I've done all of the requirements. I have a 46 bmi, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol. I figured it would be a quick approval.

Nothing but crickets.

I'm really hoping to have surgery this year, but time is slipping away. Is this common?

I'm calling the case manager Monday to see what's up.

My surgeon's office told me it usually takes one week but they have noticed it has taken longer lately. It took a week and five days for me to find out I was approved, but I also called my surgeon's office and so they looked it up online, saying it sometimes shows up there before they get the phone call. I have been told in the past by United that it can take up to 30 days but that's probably for cases where it is not a "quick approval" for whatever reason.

Good luck! I think it is a good idea to call Monday.

I have UHC insurance and they told me to expect it to take a month. I was surprised it would take that long, maybe they don't want to set expectations to high. I hope you hear something soon!

I have UHC to but I think it depends on the policy. I was approved before I even met with the surgeon - I had contacted UHC and was assigned a nurse who provided me with the paperwork to prove my 5 year BMI 40+ history. Once I got it signed off from my primary and sent it in I received the approval letter in 5 days. Then I was given the choice of surgeons, if I wanted maximum benefit it had to be at a Center of Excellence. I actually had to jump through more hoops for the surgeon than I did for the insurance co.

I was approved in 3 days. Call everyday and keep on top of them. It took about a week or a week and a half for me to get the actual letter.

I also have UHC and was approved in 3 days.

I have UHC to but I think it depends on the policy. I was approved before I even met with the surgeon - I had contacted UHC and was assigned a nurse who provided me with the paperwork to prove my 5 year BMI 40+ history. Once I got it signed off from my primary and sent it in I received the approval letter in 5 days. Then I was given the choice of surgeons' date=' if I wanted maximum benefit it had to be at a Center of Excellence. I actually had to jump through more hoops for the surgeon than I did for the insurance co.[/quote']

That's interesting! I called 3xs an never once was a nurse case manager mentioned or offered to me by insurance....

3 days after submittal I called and was told I was approved on the phone, letter received in 10 days

Approved by UHC in 2 days and my letter was received on the 5th day after submission.

I was approved within a week and received my letter shortly after. I was expecting a longer wait but was pleasantly surprised.

That's interesting! I called 3xs an never once was a nurse case manager mentioned or offered to me by insurance....

My UHC policy had Bariatric Resources through Optum:

The most effective treatment to date for significant, sustained weight loss for morbidly obese patients is bariatric surgery.² Because clinical outcomes of bariatric surgery vary widely, receiving services at an OptumHealth Bariatric Resource Services (BRS) Center of Excellence (COE) facility can help ensure that bariatric surgery and care are delivered in a manner that meets strict standards and increases the likelihood of superior outcomes and ultimately reduces costs.

Our BRS clinical team works to help individuals understand and manage the conditions associated with morbid obesity before and after surgery and have reduced inappropriate surgeries by 5 percent.³ Successful weight loss is achieved through:

• Guidance to Centers of Excellence network facilities, helping to better control the disparity of care and variability of surgical outcomes.
  
• Multi-disciplinary bariatric clinical team approach.
  
• Case management 6-months post-surgery to assess for complications and to reinforce lifestyle changes.
  
• Behavioral support to reinforce lifestyle changes, nutrition, exercise, and encouragement to participate in bariatric support groups. Behavioral health support is coordinated with the client?s behavioral health vendor.
  

I have UHC to but I think it depends on the policy. I was approved before I even met with the surgeon - I had contacted UHC and was assigned a nurse who provided me with the paperwork to prove my 5 year BMI 40+ history. Once I got it signed off from my primary and sent it in I received the approval letter in 5 days. Then I was given the choice of surgeons, if I wanted maximum benefit it had to be at a Center of Excellence. I actually had to jump through more hoops for the surgeon than I did for the insurance co.

You had pretty much the same experience as I did except my PCP did not have to sign off on anything. I really think going through Optum Health helped loads, you are basically pre-approved before even starting the official program with a physician. Once I completed the six-month diet supervised program and the paperwork was submitted to UHC it only took about a week to receive approval. My nurse coordinator with Optum actually called me with the decision before my doctor's office did.

After trying to speak to my case manager at Optum health on multiple phone call attempts, I finally gave up an emailed her. She told me that the determination staff have 15 days to decide from when the paperwork was submitted.

Looks like Halloween at the latest. It's a shame that they screen their calls. I called about ten times and didn't get an answer.

The doc operates on Thursdays, so I have six potential dates if it comes on 10/31.

I was just approved it took almost 2 weeks

took me 5 days for approval.

I also have UHC and it has been 9 days since my paperwork was submitted over to my insurance. I was also told that it takes 15 days to approve or deny. I just want to know at this point either way:(