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I just found out today that my insurance, United Healthcare choice plus, doesn't require a supervised diet or psychological evaluation. They only require a bmi over 40 and a bariatric center of excellence. I feel so fortunate. Now I just have to get approved.

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I was approved in days with them. Good luck!

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Awesome News!!!! Best of luck!

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I have UHC as well all that was required was a BMI of over 35 with 2 comorbidities or BMI of 40+. My husband work required 6mths of dietician calls known as optum health and wellness. I guess that's a good thing because my surgeon is requiring a slew of tests. This gives me time I'm half way there! I plan to have my surgery after spring '14 semester.

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cassyV- I had to enroll in optum health and wellness, that is one of my requirements. I am still waiting for one of their nurses to call me. They told me if she hasn't called me by the 27th to call them back. So I guess I will be calling them on Monday. I am hoping for a spring break surgery date(late March) since my husband will be out of school then. I will find out more at my appointment on the 3rd, it can't get here fast enough.

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It took my nurse two weeks to call me. Then she will give you a number to talk to call to set up dietitian calls. Honestly you can call optum even before the nurse calls you and get the ball rolling to enroll in the wellness program. You will get 6-8 calls within 6-7 months from the dietitian (basically 1 call a month 3-10mins), in my case thats how it is. When the nurse finally calls she will ask you questions, why this surgery have you heard of the other bariatric surgeries, what medication you take, why do you want to have this surgery and a family history. GOOD LUCK. Even though I am planning for a may/june surgery I will still be taking classes maymester, summe 1 and summer 2. It must be done though!

Edited by cassyV

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I just got a call from the nurse and she just went over some questions about my meds that i am taking. She also asked me about lifestyle changes. No dietitian calls or anything like that. Then she explained my insurance requirements.

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Hi, I'm new to this but I was wondering how other people dealt with UHC. My husbands job requires 6 month dr supervised diet, psych visit (which I had today and it went well) then to go through whatever the surgeon wants. Feb is my second diet month, but the dr told me to make sure I don't miss an appt because the insurance company (Optum) will make you start all over again!

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I also have united health care. My surgeons office called and verified that bariatric surgery was in fact covered. I also had to call and enroll in their bariatric plan. I waited just a few days and the nurse called me back. I was able to use my records from my pcp for the last 6 months and had to do an evaluation. After getting those records to my drs office they submitted the request and I was actually approved the very next day. I am having surgery this Friday. Yay!!!! So excited.

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When you used the PCP records had you been just going every month or how did that work?

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It was required for it to be consecutive months. Most of mine were but not all of them. Have just been seeing the same dr for a few yrs and could use those records. When I talked with the lady that called me back she emailed me a 6 month sheet for the drs office to fill out.

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I have only been seeing an OB for the last few years. They are using those records to document my BMI for the last 5 years so I don't know if they would let that go for my doctor supervision also. Plus, except for last year I was only going once a year. I do have some weight related lady issues that I'm going to ask about though as well as knee and foot issues.

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So I too have UHC. Just found out at the beginning of the month of having to contact optimu health. Missed the appoint with my case worker nurse so had fo reschedule the call with her. Her name is Felisha. Thursday have my 5th NUT appt n hopefully get the ball rolling with the other appts I needed. Nervous and anxious at the same time.... any advice to make it a smoother process for the approval?

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I keep reading about others with united healthcare getting approved. My insurance has a written exclusion for bariatric surgery I wish I knew where to go.

Edited by jillstl

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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.
      · 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. 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💪
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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