Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Anyone approved by CIGNA?



Recommended Posts

Hi I have CIGNA as my insurance and I'm wondering if anyone with Cigna has been given a hard time for approval and how long was the process . Thanks

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was approved by Cigna. They require 5 business days for a decision. They said some additional paperwork was needed after I submitted so my advocate sent it that day. (even though she already sent it the first time). It was re-submitted for "reconsideration" and took and additional 5 business days. I had my surgery 5 days ago. :) They also require a 3 month supervised diet but no documentation of a weight history. good luck!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have Cigna as well. My approval process included 5 years of weight history and 6 months supervised diet. Once all of the documentation was submitted I was also told a 5 day turnaround. Once I contacted Cigna on the 5th day to check the status, I had been denied. They denied me because the PCP noted that she recommended me for surgery, but didn't specifically state "cleared for surgery" on her paperwork. The patient advocate got that info from the PCP and faxed to them, received the approval 2 days later. :-) Well worth the hassle...I get sleeved 1/10. So excited! Good luck. I hope everything goes smoothly for you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have Cigna too. I was submitted on Dec 8, but was denied. Cigna claimed they didn't receive the 3 month supervised diet (which they did receive), and they said that my pcp didn't provide enough documentation that I had an adequate comorbidity (which I do). My advocate sent the 3 month history again, and I got a letter from my pcp stating that this surgery would help my hyperlipidemia, which is my comorbidity, and Cigna states that hyperlipidemia is an adequate comorbidity. My advocate resubmitted all of that info on Dec 27. My advocate says she will call them by Friday if she hasn't heard from them. My Cigna asks for the exact same requirements as mommybo. Since my bmi is right at 35-36 and I only have one comorbidity (even though Cigna says you only have to have one), I'm not feeling real positive. If they deny me again, I will keep fighting....uggghhh.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I wAs approved by cigna recently. My first submussiin they denied because they needed another doctors opinion as to why this surgery will benefit you and also that i did not present my 3 minth supervised diet. Total BS! So i had my pcp write a letter if recommendation and resubmitted aling with my 3 ointh supervised diet ligs and was approved after 5 days. I am BMI 48 with a couple of comorbidities but they still like to play a little game. Good luck.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have Cigna I needed a 6 month supervised visits and tests to be able to submit and now I have to wait 30 business days to find out if I'm approved or not

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

They denied me waiting for a appeal reallt depress I have Cigna

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

They denied me waiting for a appeal reallt depress I have Cigna

Oh no Ms Jackie! Praying for you!! Hang in there, remember I was denied at first too and then approved. It's like they don't EVER approve on the first try. Keep me updated. :rolleyes:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I will sis why was you denied at first?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I will sis why was you denied at first?

They needed the documentation of me seeing a nutritionist. My PCP saw me for the 3 month supervised diet because the requirements said it has to be supervised by your doctor OR a nutritionst. My advocate got me in that day with a nutrionist and she sent them her report that day. It was weird but it turned out ok. It was the week of Thanksgiving so I ended up waiting longer than a week for a response.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have Cinga. I had to do 3 months of dietitian apoinments. 2 co-morbidities or a BMI over 40. I met all their requirements and was denined stating that surgery was not medically nessasary. My doctor then had to do a peer to peer with the Cinga medical director to get it approved. It only took 5 days total from submitting paper work to the approval.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My doctor peer peer appeal too waiting now

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No problem at all with Cigna - quick turn around - all covered

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • NCL04321

      Just found out 2 days ago that surgery was approved and scheduled for April 12, 2023! Woohoo! Im so excited but so much to do in a short amount of time! I managed to get all of my pre surgical tests/office visits scheduled in 1 day.  EKG✔️, Chest xray ✔️, blood tests✔️,  Nutrition visits ✔️, Psych consult✔️, PCP and surgeon visit it scheduled! Ive already bought items based on other sleevers suggestions! Baby spoons, water bottle with time markings, sippy cup, blender bottle, bowls, plate, protein drinks, food for stage 1 and 2, powder tylenol, abdominal support wrap, snack containers, bariatric bento box made of glass, and any other items that will help me during my journey! Good luck to anyone out there whose surgery is coming up!!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BabySpoons

      Less than a week before gastric bypass surgery. I'm nervous but excited. Been lurking here for a while, reading. I'm about ready as I'm going to get. Down 20 pounds in 3 months. A ton of pre op testing done and cleared. Food/drinks, chewable vitamins, protein, meds bought. On 2-week preop diet now which includes 2 protein shakes a day along with 3 ounces lean protein and 2 1/2 C.  non starchy veggies and is totally do able for me. Clear liquid day before surgery. A full sugar Gatorade night before  and again 2 hrs before arriving at the hospital. Interesting how different everyone's diets are depending on your doctor.
      I'm optimistic all will go well. Good luck to the April surgeries happening this month and to all that are going through the process.  {{hugs}}
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • GMaJen

      195 weight when I went in for surgery
      199 weight when I got home for surgery
      193.2 weight 4 days after surgery
      If the inflammation from surgery is resolved, I've lost 1.8lbs in 4 days.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • GMaJen

      Had surgery last Thursday, so I've been home for 2 days as of 15 minutes ago.  I weighed more when I got discharged than when I went in despite only having eaten a Jello cup in 2 days, but I put that down to inflammation. This morning I weighed a little less than I went in.  I sneezed last night and my fiance saw me cry for the first time, and we've been together 16 years. I took my multivitamin first thing this morning and threw up. Kept it down after drinking 4oz protein shake. Yogurt gives me diarrhea, water hurts more than the fuller liquids, and my stomach is turning somersaults and I think I'm hungry because I'm used to interpreting it that way, but I have no desire to eat.
      My biggest problem is that I am used to being busy.  I own a business and I've been getting active on these boards, and when I'm on my laptop I forget to drink. Will I hurt myself if I drink faster?  I've been scheduling 4oz every 30 minutes with breaks before and after meals.  Is it too fast to drink 4 oz in 15 min to get caught up on what I missed?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • New To This23

      tl:dr at bottom,
      I could use some advice. I went to see my dietician today (not a bariatric surgery dietician, I can explain why I am seeing her if you want to know). She knows I am going to have weight loss surgery as long as I hit the goal weight my insurance told me I need to be at. I have to be at the goal weight by June 24, 2023, in order for my insurance to pay for my surgery.
      I had a weigh in the doctor's office a couple of days ago and weighed 301, my scale at home said 302. However, on the same day, the scale at a friend's house said 313. 
      I knew I had this Dietician appointment two days later and I knew she would weigh me. I continued to weigh myself at home (after getting new batteries) and I was at 302 then 299 and today at home I weighed 303, right before my appointment, when I got to her office I was weighed and it said 313.
      I am concerned about what to believe since the doctor's office and my scale show similar numbers. I also bought a new scale today and it said 313. 
      The Dietician told me I needed to eat more protein, which honestly I struggle with. she said I needed 150 grams!!  I said are you kidding? that seems like a lot.  She used my weight to come up with this number. 
      Should I really be trying to eat enough protein for a 300-lb person or should I be eating protein for a goal-weight person (mine is 170)?   
      also, my clothing is loose like I lost the 20 lbs mine and the doctor's scale shows, and not 10 lbs like everyone else's scale shows. Also, I have always naturally been more muscular even when I was 120 lbs and did not eat any protein aside from what is in plants. 
      tl:dr- should I be eating enough protein to support a 300lb person or should I be eating protein for a "normal" sized person? AND should I trust the Doctors scale more so than the Dietician's scale? 
      · 1 reply
      1. GMaJen

        I had the same issue. My scale was 6 pounds heavier than my bariatric doctor's. My scale agreed with my nutritionist's scale. I asked my bariatric doctor to have her scale recalibrated and she said it was a really expensive scale, so she trusted it. So, when it comes down to it, the scale that matters isn't the one that's right, it's the one that determines if you get your surgery or not. I would ask her when it was last calibrated and see if she will calibrate it. The difference is I Iost weight so well on the lifestyle change diet that I had to stop losing weight or risk not getting the surgery.

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×