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Anyone else have an Aetna HMO? I'm in the middle of the 3 month process, has it worked out for anyone yet? Scared I will spend all this money in copays and then will get denied...

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Anyone else have an Aetna ***? I'm in the middle of the 3 month process, has it worked out for anyone yet? Scared I will spend all this money in copays and then will get denied...

I was approved the first time they submitted. Bmi 40, I think as long as they include everything required it takes about a week to week and a half to hear back fro Aetna. I had an 7 year history of weight loss attempts (120 lb loss in 2008 and then slow gain of 50 of it over the years) . Hope you get good news

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I have Aetna TRS. After my office submitted paper work, it took about 3 days for them to approve. I started calling immediately. Had I not, I would have received a letter about two and a half weeks later. I am glad I did not sit around and wait.

According to the details of my plan (I had a choice of a three or six month deal) I had to do a Lo cal diet, exercise regimen, nutritionist visits, etc. It is ultimately the nutritionist who submits the most important details...the exercise regimen, the diet, behavior modification. Make sure your nutritionist is one who works with a bariatric doctor. The doctors office should know exactly what is needed. I kept questioning mine but man, they knew exactly what they were doing!!!!

I was very frustrated with Aetna at first because of all the hoops. It overwhelmed me. They really came through for me.

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This is basically where I'm at. I'm in the middle of my second month, I am seeing the trainer and the nutritionist that were recommended by my office, and I have to see my primary care doc. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you end up paying?

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I have a bariatric surgery co pay of $5000 but my doc only made me pay $2000 of that. My doc required EGD $1100, sleep study, $1000, cardiac clearance about $150, hospital about $3000 so right at $7000. I got gap insurance this year, first year offered, and I don't think its thru Aetna. I will have paid $600 for the year but I will get back $2500 cuz I stayed a night. So my personal total will be about $5500.

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Btw paid the first two grand with my health savings card and paying hospital off monthly. Got the rest from savings.

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Yes Aetna approved surgery after I followed their instructions for what needed to be done, the cost of out of pocket expenses depends on you using an in network or out of network provider, your own deductible and coinsurance and how much you have paid for the year out of pocket already. It is very important you are proactive to understand your insurance and out of pocket expenses and call the insurance if something is not clear.

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Anyone else have an Aetna ***? I'm in the middle of the 3 month process, has it worked out for anyone yet? Scared I will spend all this money in copays and then will get denied...

I had Aetna and called them at the end of December of 2014, they gave me the number of a few dr's that preform surgery. Called and set up a seminar with a dr after I did a little research. Seminar was on Jan 8,2015, went to 5 months worth of appts. Dr summited paper work a few days after my sixth appointment around the end of May. I was going on Vacation and they said I would hear back when I got home. I actually got the call while I was still on vacation scheduled my pre-op appt and testing while on phone and surgery was 1 1/2 weeks later. They got back to Doctor within two days with approval and I had nothing expect a BMI over 40.

Follow all directions and make copies of all paperwork so you know the dr office has summited everything to insurance. Ask them to go over paperwork with you at your 4 monthly appointment to make sure you have all your ducks in a row!!! It helps when they have it all early! Good luck!!

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My insurance carrier is Aetna. Luckily the surgeons office that I went through is very savvy about putting together the packet that Aetna demands. At my first visit, I was given a binder that includes in part, all the tests and protocol that would have to be followed before the office would submit it for approval. I took my time between the first appointment and making all the other appointments to make sure all the results were turned over to the doctor's office. (First appt was in May for consult, NUT started in May, all other misc appointments were then made, and surgery was December so I could do it while on Christmas break from school.)

As for out of pocket expenses, that varies depending on your health plan and deductibles and co-pays.

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    • 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!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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.
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