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hi everyone! I just started the process of getting approved for surgery. I have an HRA with United Health Care through Wells Fargo. While the insurance specialist at my office is working on obtaining her sign on for my insurance to verify benefits and requirements (the center I am going to just became a COE for my plan a few days ago), she had me call my insurance to verify. They advised me that there is NO diet requirement - just the basic testing, psych evaluation, and the BMI/co-morbidities. When I called her back to let her know today, she said that sounded pretty odd because almost EVERY insurance requires it. Does anyone on here have experience/information with the Wells Fargo HRA about this? I was getting my hopes up to get this done by the end of the year, as I am getting married in 7 months and would really like to have this done and be well on the road to recovery. Thanks in advance for any responses.

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Hi, I don't know about Wells Fargo, but I do work for a major firm and have UHC insurance. I contacted UHC 1/3/17 to let them know my interest in WLS, they referred me to COE, which I saw mid Jan and started seeing dietician for 6 months. I had my sleeve surgery 9/26/17. Oh, I forgot to mention I was pre approved by UHC in July.

HW 286, 1/3/17
PreOp W 263
SW 256
CW 248

No regrets! My out of pocket was $421.00 I had to pay prior to surgery. Day 5 and I feel pretty good:)




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31 minutes ago, tracysantiago said:

I also have uhc my criteria is 40+ BMI psych evaluation and 6 mo supervised diet what were your prior auth requirements? How long did the prior auth take?

I guess I should have posted on here once I finally got to the bottom of everything, huh? ;)

My criteria was BMI of 40+ and the psych evaluation.

I went to my first informational class the end of August, 2017. I have my first consultation appointment the very end of September. My insurance does NOT require a 6 month supervised diet. I did have two dietician/exercise coach visits to help establish healthy habits while waiting for everything else.

I had to be tested for H. Pylori, as well as get my A1C and Thyroid checked. My psych evaluation had to be through an Optum referred Psychologist, but it was a breeze. My doctor submitted to insurance on November 6th, and they received approval on November 8th. My surgery date is Monday, December 11th!

The whole process has been such a breeze. Good luck to you, @tracysantiago!

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Good luck on Monday.

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Thank you so much @ewilliams4491 for the well wishes!

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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💪
      · 0 replies
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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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    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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