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

UHC Choice plus-won't cover?



Recommended Posts

Well,

I called UHC on friday about noon. And the girl I talked to said they have received my paperwork on the 19th.. (I guess I will never know the date everything was sent since I've heard 2 different dates now...) Any how, she told me it is still in review and gave me a reference # for when I call back....

How long should I wait to call back. I want to know now... Ugh!! :cry

I told her if I didn't hear anything by wed. I would call back. But I don't want to wait that long. Do you think they are working on approvals on the weekend? :help:

TIA,

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for starting this thread! My DH's co. just got UHC Choice Plus & I was all excited that lap band would be covered but I'm realizing it depends on what his co. chose on plans. Ugh! I'll just have to dare myself on asking his HR about this. He has a small co. (under 100 ppl). I was so excited that we got off BCBS in hopes so I could have this surgery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Grrrr.. I am so angry. mad.gif

I was told that I didn't have a BMI of 40 or more for 5 years. Which I knew I didn't. But I have had 40 BMI for the last 3 years and as they can see if they looked thru my past 5 years of medical records that I can lose but I can't keep the dern weight off.

So I will be appealing.

Anyone have a situation like mine & appealed and won?? help.gif

TIA,

Rosanna

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Grrrr.. I am so angry. mad.gif

So I will be appealing.

Anyone have a situation like mine & appealed and won?? help.gif

TIA,

Rosanna

What's going on Rosanna? Did you appeal?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Pamla

I haven't started the appeal process just yet. I just got my denial letter in the mail a few days ago. I have been doing some research on what to say in my letter and what else I should be doing.

How have you been?

KIT

What's going on Rosanna? Did you appeal?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I also have United Health Care and they said it is not a covered charge. I am lucky because my husband has Blue Cross & Blue Sheild of Illinois and it does cover. However, the psy. evaluation, blood work, dietician, EKG and so on should be covered by United. Please do not give up. I have read they give loans with low interest rates. Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Pamla

I haven't started the appeal process just yet. I just got my denial letter in the mail a few days ago. I have been doing some research on what to say in my letter and what else I should be doing.

How have you been?

KIT

I wanted to wish you luck again. I hope you have already or soon will be filing your appeal. Will your doctors office help you with it?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I wanted to wish you luck again. I hope you have already or soon will be filing your appeal. Will your doctors office help you with it?

Hi Ragdoll,

I faxed in my appeal letter last wednesday. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I have a gut feeling that I will be denied again. But hey, you never know. I copied a letter off of a yahoo group. Of course I changed it to fit me. So of course I am hoping whoever gets it is empathetic with me.

Please keep your fingers crossed.

How have you been?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

What's going on Rosanna? Did you appeal?

Hi Pamla,

Well I did it.

I think it said in my denial letter that when you appeal you should have an answer within 15 days. So here I am waiting again.

Wish me luck.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Rosanna,

Sounds like you are at least giving it a shot! Does your insurance have any kind of peer to peer review they will do or anything? I think its usually a conference call with your surgeon?

I am doing well, 5 days post op and completely out of energy. I havent had any real food in about a week and am ready to start eating some mushy stuff. I cannot complain though, everything is exactly how it should be. I just know if you keep at your insurance company you can get an approval. They are a beast to deal with but with determination and no exclusion on your policy I cant see how it cant be done! Hang in there!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Just to let you know keep trying. I have been told for the last 6 weeks by UHC that they don't pay. I spoke with a rep. Tuesday who now says they pay 80%. Now both my primary and secondary insurance both say they will pay. I am in the waiting stage now. I hope to hear in the next couple weeks. I am very nervous they will change their minds again. Good luck to you and don't give up.

JP

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

By all means keep calling. I was told for 6 weeks by UHC that is was not a covered charge. Now they say it is a covered charge and they will pay 80%. Call and ask for a supervisor. Good luck.

JP

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Reading all of these posts makes me nervous. My paperwork was sent to UHC on 6/5/07 or at least that's when it was supposed to be sent. I have attended an information session and a support group. I have had my initial consult with the surgeon and have clearance from all of my doctors. Now I am playing the waiting game. Wish me luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello All,

I am new here and I have a few questions. I recently submitted my paperwork for approval on today. I have BMI 43 & Hypoythyroid. I only have dr's records and previous weightloos atempts from the the last 2 yrs (No insurance for over 2 yrs). I called my ins co (UHC Choice) They said that my co has elected to cover the Lapband Surgeries with the following conditions. BMI 35-40 w/ commodities or BMI of 40 and over. I asked the rep about the nutrion eval, drs referrels, medical rec 5+ yrs etc. And she said that that is not a requirement per my insurance coverage that was elected from my company. She also indicated that I didnt need an a prior approval. Has anyone heard this before? If so do I have a chance of approval based on my current status if the other information is required.

All advice is appreciated

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

    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 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

    ×