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

How long did your insurance take to approve ?!



Recommended Posts

My paperwork was just submitted to Aetna on Friday...praying to have an answer sometime before mid-week!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Who has or know anyone that has GEHA insurance??

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Who has or know anyone that has GEHA insurance??

I think they require a 6 month supervised diet before approval. But I would call them and check. They might have changed their policy much like BCBS who also had the same diet stipulation, but has since cut it down to 3 consecutive months of doctor's visits period.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think they require a 6 month supervised diet before approval. But I would call them and check. They might have changed their policy much like BCBS who also had the same diet stipulation' date=' but has since cut it down to 3 consecutive months of doctor's visits period.[/quote']

I called today and they said 6 mos proof of doctor supervised weight loss program. I'm going to start weight watchers this week and start counting down, psych eval is Monday so my 6 mos proof will be all I need.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good morning anyone have Cigna? Our plan admin said its not covered. He said he asked for an exception but Cigna wouldn't. Has anyone been thru that & still yet got approved?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I called today and they said 6 mos proof of doctor supervised weight loss program. I'm going to start weight watchers this week and start counting down, psych eval is Monday so my 6 mos proof will be all I need.

You need to check with them to make sure Weight Watchers is acceptable. Some insurance companies really want you to seed a doctor like your PCP or a NUT for it to be considered 6 months...in addition, make sure it's 6 consecutive months too...if you break...you have to start all over. I did read a few post from people that were heart broken because their insurance companies would not accept WW as a valid "supervised" plan to approve surgery. Make sure you don't get caught off guard...check, double check and triple check if necessary.

Good luck.

\

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good morning anyone have Cigna? Our plan admin said its not covered. He said he asked for an exception but Cigna wouldn't. Has anyone been thru that & still yet got approved?

Cigna has paid for WLS, the gentleman that joined with me, has it and he's been approved. But if your employer has a "bariatric exclusion" clause in its policy.not much you can do, but go self-pay or finance.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have CIGNA, and even though I haven't been approved yet, I know they cover the surgery. It depends on the package/exclusions that your employer chose.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

thank you sooo much, you're correct my employer explicitly made sure none of it would be covered :// oh well God will provide :) thank you all so much.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have BCBS IL and it took roughly 2 weeks for my approval. My Surgeon office took care off everything regarding the insurance approval. The Kane Center is Awesome fir those located near Chicago-Burbs!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have Anthem BCBS and the insurance approval took just over 48 hours. I completed all the testing requirements on Friday, August 23 at 4:30 pm.The surgeon's office submitted my claim on Monday, August 25 at 9 am and Wednesday, August 27 at 5pm I received my confirmation that I was APPROVED. I was really impressed with my insurance company. They have even assigned me a case management nurse that is familiar with bariatric surgery to coach me through recovery.

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

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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.
  • 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

    ×