Does anyone here work for AT&T and had their insurance pay for the lapband? I am a former Cingular Wireless employee and obesity surgery was excluded in 2005. Now that I am under the AT&T umbrella, I would like to know if surgery was excluded prior to 2008 (this might help in my appeal)

Thanks...:thumbup:

I am a new at&t wireless employee in KY, and I am wanting to be banded. I believe my insurance UHC Choice Plus says there is an exclusion for wls. My BMI is 42 and I have high cholestrol. Does anyone have any ideas about what I might do to get covered?

So any news about your UCH coverage covering the procedure?

Hi my husband also works for AT&T in California and is in the union. I just had surgery in July and had no pre authorization requirements. My doctors office was really surprised, so far UHC has been great. Good luck

Hello all,

My husband just got his insurance info in the mail today. They gave us 3 options. I am wondering if anyone knows which ones cover wls. The choices are Cigna (dep-ppo), Dean Care (hmo) and United Health Care. We live in Wisconsin. Thanks to anyone that can help.

Hi everyone. I am an AT&T(formerly BellSouth) employee in TN. We have BCBSIL PPO. This is the first year that lap band has been offered as WLS. Previously we were only offered gastric bypass (under BCBSAL). I had to have 5 year history or obesity, co-morbidities(sp?), and a 6 month supervised diet plan. It only took 6 days from the time my paperwork was submitted to get it approved. It's funny that we all work for the same company but have such different insurance policies and coverages. Good luck to all of you!

Edited August 27, 200817 yr by *slim*

I begin coverage with UHC on sept 1st so I will be calling day one to see if I qualify. I will keep updating. Would love to here more details if anyone in the at&t family has some hints.

I work at the call center in Ashland, KY as a CSR, I wonder if our coverage is the same?

:biggrin:

I begin coverage with UHC on sept 1st so I will be calling day one to see if I qualify. I will keep updating. Would love to here more details if anyone in the at&t family has some hints.

All I can tell you is keep the faith. As per the normal, nothing is the same within the company. We aren't even offered UHC here in East TN. I will wish you much luck.

I didn't have all the BMIs over last five years.. I was denied. I'm working on appeal. Any info from people that work from AT&T would be greatly appreciated.

I didn't have all the BMIs over last five years.. I was denied. I'm working on appeal. Any info from people that work from AT&T would be greatly appreciated.

This is my first post in this forum. I am scheduled for my first consultation this week, so was doing some research. I am an AT&T Manager with UHC insurance. The SPD indicates that that WLS is covered. However I am concerned about the 5 year diagnosis, :thumbup: so we shall see. Wish me luck!

"Surgical treatment of morbid obesity received from a Network or ONA-PPO Provider is covered. All of the following criteria must be met:

• Covered Person must have a minimum BMI of 40;

• Covered Person must have documentation of a diagnosis of morbid obesity for a minimum of five (5) years from a physician;

• Covered Person must be 18 years or older;

• Surgery must be performed at a Network or ONA-PPO Provider by a Network or ONA-PPO surgeon. This is true even if there are no Network or ONA-PPO Providers near the Covered Person.

• Benefits are limited to one procedure during the entire period of time you are covered under AT&T Medical."

I am Manager as well and got approved. If you have problems or want to discuss send me a private message.

A co-work had her consultation yesterday and found out she was pre-approved this morning by UHC. Wow, in less than 24hrs. I am so happy for her.

I am feeling a little more positive about my appointment today at 1pm. I will let you know how it turns out.

BUMP!

Hey everyone! I've read everyone's posts , and still have a burning question since I, too, work for at&t and I'm considering lap band (I'm going to a seminar tomorrow). I was told on the phone that our insurance only covers 85% of the surgery, and I'm wondering what y'all had to pay out of pocket. I've heard from other people not employed by at&t that the dr makes the claim so that you don't end up having to pay anything. I guess I'll get more info tomorrow about payment options etc, but I would love to hear from people in similar situations how it all worked from a financial stand point.

T.I.A.

-A

Like everyone else I am so glad I found this thread ! I am a manager for AT&T I am going through the process now of getting approved. Hopefully everything will work out but my question is did anyone have the surgery and NOT have the fills covered? What is everyone's experience with this? Thanks so much !

Hi Skinny, I work in KC and have UHC, my fills were covered except for the co-pay. One thing I want to warn everyone about having Lapband is if you encounter problems with your band along the way and have to have it removed, then unless the removal is deemed "life threatening" the company will not pay to have it removed, they consider it another weight loss surgery and say only one WLS allowed, I know this because my band had slipped and needed to come out but because I was still able to eat and drink they did not deem it life threatening, so I did self pay for removal and had the Sleeve WLS surgery done, also self pay. After having both of these surgeries, I would recommend the Sleeve over the band because food doesn't get stuck and no fills. I had the Sleeve done in February this yar and have lost 50 lbs. when I was banded, I lost 114 lbs, so the band does work but just warning you about the possibilities of having to pay for removal, if you ever have any problems!