• American Bariatrics is a free online Bariatric Support Group. Register for your free account and get access to all of our great features!

Need insurance info

D

DawnTaylor1975

Member
My husband got Cigna insurance through his job. I know that it covers bariatric surgery but I need to know what the process is like. I have several issues that are making me want to have this surgery. I'm interested in Gastric Bypass and the Duodenal switch. It covers both. I don't need a referral to see a weightloss surgeon, which makes me happy, but I am going to talk to my pcp to get a recommendation on one. If you have Cigna, can you please tell me what the process to get approval is like? How long will it take? Is there anything I should know that you didn't know before you got started on your journey but wish you had known? Any info is greatly appreciated. I don't know if this matters or not but I'm in North Carolina. Thank you in advance.
 
DawnTaylor1975 said:
My husband got Cigna insurance through his job. I know that it covers bariatric surgery but I need to know what the process is like. I have several issues that are making me want to have this surgery. I'm interested in Gastric Bypass and the Duodenal switch. It covers both. I don't need a referral to see a weightloss surgeon, which makes me happy, but I am going to talk to my pcp to get a recommendation on one. If you have Cigna, can you please tell me what the process to get approval is like? How long will it take? Is there anything I should know that you didn't know before you got started on your journey but wish you had known? Any info is greatly appreciated. I don't know if this matters or not but I'm in North Carolina. Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...
Hi Dawn,

I do not have Cigna either, I have BlueShield through work and my process was really smooth. I had my initial appointment on Dec 18th and the surgeon's office knew what insurance would require. My surgeon's requirement was that I needed to loose 10% of my starting weight before she would schedule surgery. I then needed a phych approval (they gave me a list of names of people they work with for that), my primary doctor's approval (they provided me with a form to have her complete), some blood-work, an EKG & chest X-ray. I took the first available appointment on everything, buckled down to loose the 10% and had surgery on March 11th, not even 3 months later!

I hope your experience will be as hassle-free as mine was!
 
DawnTaylor1975 said:
My husband got Cigna insurance through his job. I know that it covers bariatric surgery but I need to know what the process is like. I have several issues that are making me want to have this surgery. I'm interested in Gastric Bypass and the Duodenal switch. It covers both. I don't need a referral to see a weightloss surgeon, which makes me happy, but I am going to talk to my pcp to get a recommendation on one. If you have Cigna, can you please tell me what the process to get approval is like? How long will it take? Is there anything I should know that you didn't know before you got started on your journey but wish you had known? Any info is greatly appreciated. I don't know if this matters or not but I'm in North Carolina. Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...
Hi Dawn,

I wanted to add in that even people who have the same insurance company may still have different requirements. I have the same insurance company as Brenda, but for mine I had to meet the requirements she listed plus six months of doctor monitored weight loss before they would give me approval. Your best option is to call your insurance company and speak to them about it. Also, your doctor (once you select one) might help with that. After my initial consultation, they reached out to my insurance and did all the leg work. They then let me know what was required and the steps to take to get there. Hopefully yours will help out as well once you decide to meet with a surgeon. Good luck!
 
Brenda2010 said:
Hi Dawn,

I do not have Cigna either, I have BlueShield through work and my process was really smooth. I had my initial appointment on Dec 18th and the surgeon's office knew what insurance would require. My surgeon's requirement was that I needed to loose 10% of my starting weight before she would schedule surgery. I then needed a phych approval (they gave me a list of names of people they work with for that), my primary doctor's approval (they provided me with a form to have her complete), some blood-work, an EKG & chest X-ray. I took the first available appointment on everything, buckled down to loose the 10% and had surgery on March 11th, not even 3 months later!

I hope your experience will be as hassle-free as mine was!
Click to expand...
Hi Brenda,
I'm trying to understand insurance approval. I also have BCBS. They require documentation of a six month completed diet plan/program. What did you have to do to fulfill this requirement?
 
I am still waiting on insurance approval. I have Excellus BCBS I had to go through a 6 month program. Going each month for a weigh in. I had to meet with the nutritionist 2 times. Had to have an endoscopy. I had to go to 5 sessions with a psychiatrist. I was lower on the BM scale so I wasn't required to lose any weight but I could not gain more than 4 lbs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top