nicole242

For those of you with Aetna PLease call to see if your employer has written weight loss surgery into your policy. If they have not you will NOT be approved for any reason at all. I would suggest checking that out before you do anything!!! Call yourself!!! The suregeons office has you do all this stuff, and you shell out all this money, and then find out they won't even consider this. This is what happened to me. I wish I myself would have checked with the insurance company first!!!!

I can not ever fight this because, my employer who writes the plan did not include weight loss surgery. My plan does not for any reason cover this surgery. I am so sad, but have once again started weight watchers loosing 1lb than .02 lbs a week, it is a long slow process, I hope to loose weight and I am trying but, i have 80 lbs to loose. I have borderline diabetes and the insurance company will end up paying a lot more for my treatments, then if the would have assisted me with this weight loss aid. Best of luck to all!!!!

Yes maybe I should have MYSELF called, but I guess since the office gal told me what I needed to do next, I thought they had already called to find out. I have had the same ins. for 5 years, my son was very ill with a brain tumor and I was very thankful they covered most of the bills. As I have said before this was a HUGE misunderstanding by the suregeons office and myself, With my many other insurance issues I know for a fact that the first thing the doctors office does is call to see what is covered, than has you do whatever is needed to start the process.

I did not say it was Aetnas fault at all!!!! I am upset with the suregeons office for not calling first " like I thought they had" before they had me do everything else. I am NOT upset with the insurance company at all!!!

Oh I failed to tell you in my last post that no paper work was ever sent in, they made a phone call that was all. when I myself called aetna they told me that if they would have called 6 months ago that would have saved me a lot of money, because they would have been told my plan does not cover weight loss surgery.

I was denied, my plan does not cover the surgery at all, the doctors office never call to check until after they took over 300.00 from me with doctors visits co-pays and a phsyc. eval. that cost me 150.00. I am very upset that they did not call before they had me jump through hoops for 6 months. I may self pay but .... at a different clinic beware of DR. Monash in Tucson AZ his office girl Stephanie does not know how to do her job.

*********** please excuse my spelling mistakes ********

Hello, My doctor told me atena does approve people however there are things you must do first...... it is a lot of work, maybe your doctor just does not want to help you through it. I just sent my paper work in today. here is what I needed to do. 1. 5 years of med. records including weight records. 2. a 3 month doctor followed diet plan along with a letter from a family doctor stating the reason this surgery should be done. 3. a 3 month documented meetings with a diatician during which you must keep a food/exercize log. 4. monthly weigh ins with your family doctor. 5. a phsyc evaluation. I am not 100% sure that I will get approved, but my surgeon and his staff helped me the best they could.My suregeon said people from Atena do get approved if these requirements are met. I have pre diabetis and my bmi is about 40. I hope this helped please feel free to e- mail me with any other questions. Best of luck!!!

I had a breast reduction back in 1992, I have not ever felt that was the wrong choice, at the time of the surgery I was 121 lbs. 5ft 2 and size 40F. I went through a pregnancy and have gained almost 100 lbs. since then and my chest has had little change.

hello, I am from arizona as well wishing you the very best!!! I am still waiting on insurance approval..... I am looking forward to being in your shoes soon.

The 3 month diet plan is monitered by your family doctor as well as a lic. Diatician. you meet with the diatician and talk about your personal eating habbits, I have been keeping track of everything I eat and drink she looks it over at our once a month meetings and helps me with possible alterations. I see my family doctor for weigh in only once a month, when I meet with him, it is ONLY about my diet nothing else. I have not done my phsyc. eval.as of this time which is a requirement of most insurance companies. My family doctor wrote me a letter stating that this surgery very much aid me. My doctor stated failed attempts of other diets, as well as basic health concerns. I am seeing a personal trainer not required but, I know exercise is very important in the entire weigh loss program. please feel free to e-mail me with any questions jab66@cox.net I will keep you up dated on my status, I will be sending in my paperwork in about 2-3 weeks best of luck.

I myself am in the process of working on the 3 month diet program with atena ins. glad to hear some good stories it gives me hope!!! thanks

Hello, You should go and talk to a surgeon who does this type of surgery or look on line for a information session in your area. Best of luck to you. Insurance companies also have their own standards which vary from company to company, most suregons have specialists on staff to assist you with those issues.

I am so happy everything it ok best wishes to you

Hello, They really can not tell you anything, I so do not mean to scare you but, you can often tell by looking at someone if there is something odd going on, This in fact happened to me last year.I am so sorry that you are upset and waiting I will say a prayer that your instincts are wrong!!! god bless

Funny.... I have called my surgeon's office 2 time now asking what else I need before they can send the information to my insurance company, once they said so-in -so will call you back, she nevre did that last Tuesday when I called they told me to call back on friday because that is tha day they do their insurance stuff, when I call to ask questions the gal seems unsure of the information she is giving me. I think a good part of the process is how well it is presented to the insurance company as well as how confident they are in the information they are giving you. ........ thanks for thr post it gives me something to think about.

hello, I am from arizona as well, glad to hear things are going well for you.

I am almost done with my 3 month dr. followed weight loss program as required by atena my insurance company.I knew going into this atena can be sticklers so I went above and beyond what was asked. I have a 3 month journal of everything I have eaten or drank. A personal letter Written by my family doctor stating that he feels this surgery would be helpful and why he included my health issues and how long I have been dealing with them. My doctor charged me 25.00 to write this but I am willing to do almost anything to get this done. I kept a exercise journal, had my personal trainer at the gym write a letter, and the person who has benn following my diet progress wrote a very detailed letter as well. I now wait and hope!!! good luck I hope this helped