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United Health Care-No coverage on WLS



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Ok can somebody help me with this...what else can be done when you have UHC that excludes Bariatric surgery? I know there's self pay and some people go to Mexico but is there any other options?!?! I'm thinking about talking to someone in my HR department but will that even help?!?! I'm desperate need to go from the band to the sleeve☠️ Anybody in here work for UHC I'll take any answers

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I experienced a similar problem with AmeriHealth (they said it was a Gastrointestinal Procedure - like a Colonoscopy). I wound up switching providers to Horizon Blue Cross in order to get my Sleeve done. It took about 2 months to get everything switched over, but it was the only way for me to get what I needed.

There were hassles and a few phone calls that had me praying for forgiveness afterward, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

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It must be your job that doesn't include bariatric surgery within their plan. I have UHC and it was covered. Maybe find out if it's your job that doesn't because I'm almost positive UHC does. (I'm also assuming your insurance is through your job.) I know my insurance had certain requirements others with UHC didn't have but it was because my job picked those certain requirements.

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Yes my insurance is through my job, so you think I might need to give HR a call...or at this point there's no need

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I have UHC and it was covered. It's done through your job. If they don't offer Bariatric surgery on their plan it won't matter who you call. My advice is to look through other insurance choices outside of the job and see if one fits better. I'm sorry they don't cover it that sucks.

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Yes my insurance is through my job, so you think I might need to give HR a call...or at this point there's no need

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As said above it wouldn't matter because the job doesn't cover it in their plan.

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The bariatric provision on many insurance policies for companies is an option they can choose to include or exclude (usually cheaper to exclude). You can call the HR department, but any changes would go into effect the next open enrollment and probably not immediately.

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I have UHC. Weirdest thing ever! HMO covers bariatric care but PPO doesn't. So, I was allowed to switch back to HMO in the middle of the plan year once I realized this. I explained to HR that I have a lapband which requires ongoing care and would not have enrolled in a PPO had I known bariatric services/care was excluded. You may have to take this time to research your plan options and find out which one covers bariatric treatment and switch to that one during open enrollment.

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