xavtay2

Lisa you look amazing! Wishing you continued success on your journey

Hi Cynthia I can't wait to be where you are in the process sounds like you are off to an awesome start! Best regards in your sleeve journey

Slimommbest regards as I have prayed about my decision and I will continue to pray! Good post very inspiring and prayerfully my surgery will be the week of Sept 10! I can relate to everything you said. We can and will be healthy soon

Jimmy that's awesome! I love Zumba it has been hard for me to get to the class lately but great job on you transformation

Hello how much sugar does these shakes have?

Justine so was I got the news today! Shooting for Sept 10 as well. We have to keep in touch during the process so happy

Hello VDunn! I just experienced the same thing with Cigna the beginning of June. The part that was so frustrating to me was the fact that I did not hear anything about this part of the policy until my paperwork was submitted and denied. I took 3 routes: contacted my hr advocate, contacted state insurance to file a compliant and I wrote a letter of appeal. One by one I was told to just find another doctor that works at a Cigna certified center of excellence! Finally after about a month I received a call from Cigna stating I was approved! I was frustrated and annoyed but now I know that everything happened for a reason! Did I mention all of this was while I was pursuing the Lapband! So glad it happened because now I am going with the sleeve! Good luck don't give up and call them everyday if you feel you need to! Blann

Congratulations Suzanne! I can't wait until I am 4 years out and you are right one month will be over before I know it

Hello! I have Cigna and just went thru the same thing. Word of advice Write a letter of appeal to the insurance company. I wrote a letter with the help of a family member who is an attorney. Points to the letter: don't be repetitive, state the facts with times names and dates, send them screen prints of what there site shows because the hospital my doctor was using was a center but because they were not a Cigna certified center of excellence it was a problem! State your reasons for filing the appeal and send it off. I was denied the beginning of June. Sent my letter 2weeks later and about 6 weeks from the time I sent the letter I received a call from Cigna with my approval! Go for it you stay encouraged and remember to send in the letter

Welcome to the forum! I love this site and everyone is so supportive and it is tons of information on here. I am pre-op as well and I am so looking forward to a new start at life.. A new lifestyle. Wishing you the best on your journey and lets keep in touch... Blann

Happy Birthday and congratulations on your success so far!~ I can't wait until I no longer want birthday cake or any type of cake for that matter...

Justine13 wow we have the same goals! I can't wait to get there...... Love This.site

Wishing you a speedy recovery! Can't wait until I am where you are....

Hello CarolynB, I just experienced sort of the same thing with CIGNA! I was going thru the process of having the lapband and once the precertification paperwork was sent in Cigna denied me based an exclusion in our policy that specifically states in order for Bariatric surgery to be covered it has to be performed at a Certified Center Of Excellence. I was frustrated and I did 3 things: worked with my HR advocate, contacted the State of Fl Insurance Compliants and filed for an appeal and I wrote a formal letter of appeal and sent it into Cigna. It took about 3 weeks to her back for the state-still denied, it took 4 weeks her from my HR advocate to find another doctor (Which led me to the gastric sleeve) and about 6 weeks to hear from Cigna via my formal appeal. TO make a long story short I have now been approved to have any 3 of the procedures at any hospital in the state of FL. MORAL OF THE STORY don't give up! Something good will happen... Can't wait for you success story

Kadive sorry to hear about your denial but I want to encourage you to keep going because it will turn out okay. I was denied for a lapband by Cigna back in early June. They did not request a peer review but I wrote a formal letter of appeal and last week I was given a decision of which procedure I wanted to proceed with! Now I have options and I am going with sleeve. I was down for awhile but GOD knows that now it seems to all be working on in God's timing. I love this site! The information and support is unbelievable and I am learning something new almost daily. I am sure someone will give you more information relating to a PEER REVIEW. Wishin you all the best and can't wait to hear the good news Blann

Good morning Smartypants, I guess I can understand you being nervous but don't cancel!~ Think about how much better you are going to feel once you are post-op and keep going.. I haven't had surgery yet but I am nervous and both excited to have the surgery and get my life back. I think that your userid-Smartypants says it all! Keep moving and I can't wait to hear your words of encouragment and inspiration once you are about 4 to 6 months post-op... Have a blessed day Blann

Hey NW GIRL~ Thanks for your response and you are correct. The only problem is I was told by two different insurance precertification representatives that the listing of Center of Excellence hospitals they are using is outdated! To be exact one rep said October of 2011 and last week another lady told me it was dated back 2009. I jsut think they need to use a current listing prior to giving me a denial..

Good luck on getting your approval. I just sent a certified packet today with my office letter of appeal to Cigna. I wish I would have had your letters. If you can please send them to my personal email: xavtay2@gmail.com. They still may come in handy, I was denied because of the facility my insurance does cover WLS. we will see the outcome as I am sending positive energy to everyone affected in this way. I believe that it will be apprived I just have to fight for it. Good luck and keep in touch