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

I work with Insurance.



Recommended Posts

The amount you should owe will be determined by the facility your surgery is at. You'll have to pay your deductible at the very least but some facilities let you pay half of that upfront and be billed the remainder. It really depends on the policy of that specific facility.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you SO MUCH for your help! I have united healthcare Mdipa, in Virginia. I'm a federal employee. Do I have to have 6 months consecutive or will 2, 3 month programs qualify me for a sleeve?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sarah 82, I have Excellus SimplyBlue Plus Silver 10 and I cannot get an answer as to whether or not I need to have a 6 month supervised diet and weight loss plan. Is this something that you are able to check into? I've called the insurance company twice and they've emailed me paperwork but it is like reading a foreign language. At my first visit to the bariatric center, I brought all the paper work that insurance had emailed me and the nurse looked at it and said I was fine since my BMI was over 40. Then the same nurse asked me last week if my insurance required a 6 month supervision period.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If you need help understanding your benefits, I can give you advice from the hospital/facility side of things. Part of my job is to get prior authorizations and calculate how much patients will owe for certain services.

Sarah, If my employer excluded all Bariatric procedures in our coverage, what options do I have?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If you need help understanding your benefits, I can give you advice from the hospital/facility side of things. Part of my job is to get prior authorizations and calculate how much patients will owe for certain services.

Sarah, If my employer excluded all Bariatric procedures in our coverage, what options do I have?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You'll be considered a self pay patient. The only option you have is to find out how much the facility where the surgery will be will cost. They're who you'll have to pay upfront. Most facilities will give self pay patients a 50% discount off the total cost of the surgery. Then you'll probably be expected to pay half of that upfront. Where I had mine done, it would've been about $15k if I wouldn't have had insurance. That doesn't include any inpatient stay.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sarah 82, I have Excellus SimplyBlue Plus Silver 10 and I cannot get an answer as to whether or not I need to have a 6 month supervised diet and weight loss plan. Is this something that you are able to check into? I've called the insurance company twice and they've emailed me paperwork but it is like reading a foreign language. At my first visit to the bariatric center, I brought all the paper work that insurance had emailed me and the nurse looked at it and said I was fine since my BMI was over 40. Then the same nurse asked me last week if my insurance required a 6 month supervision period.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@@Sarah 82...I have Cigna insurance and they confirm they received my paperwork on March 2nd but I'm still pending. Almost all the post I've read about Cigna say they were approved in about 2 days. Is the fact that I'm going on week 2 and still pending a bad sign? When I called, they said it was being reviewed by a nurse and would then be reviewed by the medical director.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sorry I didn't get a notification with your post. If you still need help, send your name, dob, and insurance id to my email. I'll check your benefits from work this week. Sseelbach@live.com

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@@Sarah 82...I have Cigna insurance and they confirm they received my paperwork on March 2nd but I'm still pending. Almost all the post I've read about Cigna say they were approved in about 2 days. Is the fact that I'm going on week 2 and still pending a bad sign? When I called, they said it was being reviewed by a nurse and would then be reviewed by the medical director.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It sounds like it's just in medical review right now. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Also, policies vary so just because someone else with Cigna got theirs approved that soon doesn't mean yours would've been. Some insurances even have what's called a predetermine period and those can take up to 30 business days. If you'll send me an email with your full name, DOB, ID#, and the exact name of the insurance on your card I can look into it further this week at work. There may be something they're waiting on in order to process a decision. Sseelbach@live.com

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@@Sarah 82...I have Cigna insurance and they confirm they received my paperwork on March 2nd but I'm still pending. Almost all the post I've read about Cigna say they were approved in about 2 days. Is the fact that I'm going on week 2 and still pending a bad sign? When I called, they said it was being reviewed by a nurse and would then be reviewed by the medical director.

I also have cigna. The first time I submitted they came back with with a denial in less than two weeks. They added some more tests and I finished those and re submitted on March 1st. Still no word so I totally understand what your saying. All these others getting approval so fast and for us it's taking forever :(

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm new to this site and I have just browsing the comments to see if I can get answers to my questions. I currently only have Medicaid and I wanted to know is there any individual insurance that I can get personally that will cover this procedure?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If your Medicaid will pay for it, that's going to be your best option because you won't have any cost share. Also, idk what state you're in but for Texas, it's very rare that you would qualify for Medicaid if you've got commercial insurance. That said, yes, there are several insurances that have bariatric coverage.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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

    • Theweightisover2024🙌💪

      Question for anyone, how did you get your mind right before surgery? Like as far as eating better foods and just doing better in general? I'm having a really hard time with this. Any help is appreciated 🙏❤️
      · 2 replies
      1. NickelChip

        I had about 6 months between deciding to do surgery and getting scheduled. I came across the book The Pound of Cure by Dr. Matthew Weiner, a bariatric surgeon in Arizona, and started to implement some of the changes he recommended (and lost 13 lbs in the process without ever feeling deprived). The book is very simple, and the focus is on whole, plant based foods, but within reason. It's not an all or nothing approach, or going vegan or something, but focuses on improvement and aiming for getting it right 80-90% of the time. His suggestions are divided into 12 sections that you can tackle over time, perhaps one per month for a year if a person is just trying to improve nutrition and build good habits. They range from things like cutting out artificial sweetener or eating more beans to eating a pound of vegetables per day. I found it really effective pre-surgery and it's an eating style I will be working to get back to as I am further out from surgery and have more capacity. Small changes you can sustain will do the most for building good habits for life.

      2. Theweightisover2024🙌💪

        That sounds awesome. I'll have to check that out thanks!

    • BeanitoDiego

      I've hit a stall 9 months out. I'm not worried, though. My fitness levels continue to improve and I have nearly accomplished my pre-surgery goal of learning to scuba dive! One dive left to complete to get my PADI card 🐠
      I was able to go for a 10K/6mile hike in the mountains two days ago just for the fun of it. In the before days, I might have attempted this, but it would have taken me 7 or 8 hours to complete and I would have been exhausted and in pain for the next two days. Taking my time with breaks for snacks and water, I was finished with my wee jaunt in only 4 hours 😎 and really got to enjoy photographing some insects, fungi, and turtles.
      Just for fun last week, I ran two 5Ks in two days, something I would have never done in the past! Next goal is a 10K before the end of this month.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Teriesa

      Hi everyone, I wrote back in May about having no strength. I still get totally exhausted just walking from room to room, it’s so bad I’m using a walker with wheels of all things. I had the gastric sleeve Jan. 24th. I’m doing exactly what the programs says, except protein shakes. I have different meats and protein bars daily, including vitamins daily. I do drink my fluids as well.  I go in for IV hydration 4 days a week and feel ok just til evening.  So far as of Jan 1st I’ve dropped 76 lbs. I just want to enjoy the weight lose. Any suggestions or has anyone else gone thru this??  Doctor says just increase calorie intake, still the same. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Stone Art By SKL

      Decorative Wall Cladding & Panels | Stone Art By SKL
      Elevate your space with Stone Art By SKL's decorative wall claddings & panels. Explore premium designs for timeless elegance.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Clueless_girl

      Losing my hair in clumps and still dealing with "stomach" issues from gallbladder removal surgery. On the positive side I'm doing better about meeting protein and water goals and taking my vitamins, so yay? 🤷‍♀️
      · 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

    ×