My insurance is being sketchy with my physician. They told them that the information is online but the information is vague. I am waiting for my sleep study so it may not be an issue but they want to know the criteria. I don't want to pay out of pocket if my insurance covers it.

you can always call them yourself. By law they must give you their guidelines for coverage.

I have called 3 times they told me to have dr call

If your insurance is through your employer then you need to go to HR and complain Them telling you, the customer, to have your doctor call to verify benefits is not acceptable. Call them again and ask for a supervisor or manager if they refuse to answer. I would be livid if they refused to answer if a sleep study was covered and at what benefit level.

If push comes to shove you can always threaten to contact the Department of Insurance to file a complaint. (If it isn't an ERISA employer based plan). The DOI complaint won't get you the answer faster but the sometimes the threat will get them to respond.

I lovvvvvve going over peoples' heads. It is so empowering - and it gets things done, especially if you threaten to sic a regulatory agency on someone's upper management. Registered letters copied to either the agency or your state's Attorney General get it done, too, because someone has to admit that they received it.

Its not the sleep study that is the issue its the surgery

I got information on my deductible what they cover for services but the criteria is secret even to my doctor. They just wanted to know can the submit now or do they need me to have sleep apnea. Do I need to have 40 bmi or is 35 ok? I am frustrated. I had issues with the sleep study which I am taking tonight. I just want answers.

Even if it is the criteria for the WLS that is "secret" instead of the sleep study my answer is the same. Escalate to HR, insurance company supervisor or manager, department of insurance.

Out of curiosity what insurance company is this?

Fallon

I will have my study back on Wednesday so if they don't call my physician by then I will ask to speak with a manager.

I just looked up their medical policy on WLS - yes, it is very, very vague! It lists no clinical criteria at all.

However, it does references Interqual (this is a program that houses criteria that needs to be met). Your doc may have access to Interqual?

Doctors offices often contact insurance companies for their criteria and interpretations of policies, that shouldn't be too out of the ordinary - this helps the doctors office to know how to bill in order to have it covered.

If you continue to run into difficulties even with a manager in customer service- you may want to ask for someone in Medical Policy or a Medical Director in Medical Management.

I work in medical policy for an insurance company.

The provider goes to the interqual site and answers questions and based on the answers give a denial or acceptance. The criteria is a secret because they don't want the public to know. I do billing for a Bariatric surgeon. I am going to try again next week.

What a mess! That is certainly shady... just making members jump through unidentified hoops to get care. Hope you are able to get the info you need from the insurance company!

Thank you

Fallon faxed the criteria to my dr. I don't know what it is but at least now they know.

My insurance told me flat out they would cover when I called. Also, on the website it said they would. Turns out they were wrong. My Dr called and they told him no. I turned them in to the state board. I bought more expensive insurance for this coverage. They said it was a misprint and they were not liable since the surgery had yet to be competed. I ended up paying OOP with student loans. But I met my maximum OOP expenses which is nice. I have no more deductibles or charges for any dr visits. I'm taking full advantage of that.