Finally today a letter from CIGNA saying ..."We received a resquest from you on 3/25/08 (faxed my paperwork _$30.00 UPS store on February 20th to the Sugeon's office! - trusted the coordinator there- silly me) and they said To process your request, we need the following additional information:

- Clinical information for medical necesity is needed fax info to 132438948923

I sent them EVERYTHING they asked for!!? Has anyone ever received this?

They are closed today of course ...what is clinical info exactly? :thumbup:

It sounds like they need the letter of medical necessity from your primary doctor. Do you know if that was faxed in? I would call Cigna and ask.

Good evening, all I can tell you from my experiences with Cigna if you don't get in touch with a supervisor all they do is push you around and try to bury your file. I was denied the first time with Cigna even though when I sent in my appeal the surgeons office sent the exact same information the second time and they approved it through the appeal process. I do not have a BMI of 40 but it is 37.5 and I have several serious commorbidities. I had to call everyother day to check on the progress and several times they told me I needed different pieces of information but after I got to the supervisor they assured me they had everything they needed. With Cigna it has taken me since early October to get through the process and just This past Thursday the supervisor that had assigned herself my case called to let me know that the procedure had been approved. I still am not scheduled for surgery yet because the surgeons office has to received the approval in writing before they will schedule my surgery. I wish you well on your journey but if you did not get a letter on medical nescity from your PCP I am sure they will need one. Along with the 6 month medically supervised diet and excercise program documentation. I was so envious of all the people on hear that got their approvals so quickly but with Cigna you have to fight. But don't let them win, we pay for our insurance and deserve our benefits.

Susie

Hey Susie:

Thank you so much for taking the time out to share your words of wisdom. You gave me strength to put up a fight for my insurance rights! I am very similar to you ...same BMI and age! Though I haven't weighed myself in months I could be higher by now. I have sent in my very lengthy physcian's approval on his letterhead and all the rest exactely the way they want it.

So how are you doing now? Have you been banded yet? How have you been doing feeling?

Thanks again,

YOurs,

Marg