How Long Does Cigna Approval Take ?

[chunkychic30 12]

well it took cigna exactly 2 weeks to approve !!!

[HopeThruFaith 30]

It took me 26 days to get approved.

[BABEwiththePOWER 16]

I heard back from my appeal last week, and Cigna denied it on the basis of not receiving documentation of a 6-month dr supervised program. The only problem with that is that I did the 6 months, and that's why I resubmitted when it was complete!

The drs office assures me they sent it, and after my twelfth transfer at Cigna, someone finally read the documents sent to them, and couldn't find the 6 month program...hmmm.

I called back the drs office, and they had copies of what they sent, and assured me again that it was all there. Well, now it's "they said" "they said," and that's exhausting...but not enoug to drop trying to get covered.

Long story short, Cigna told me I was at the end of their appeals process and if I wanted to continue further, I had to hire and external review board, blah blah blah. Luckily, my drs office called Cigna again, and by the tenth person they talked to, they got a fax number to fax just the "missing" info to, and they'd take a look at it.

No word yet, but here's hoping!!!

[HopeThruFaith 30]

I hope it works out for you. Cigna can be a pain to deal with. Hang in there.

[Ebonni Owens 6]

Thank for your honesty. I have a friend who works in a doctors office and says most insurance will approve or deny in 2-3 weeks. My doctor will be submitting next week after my final appointment. I am a little scared but I know I have done everything they requested and more that meet the requirments. I have a BMI of 46. I also have high blood pressure in which I take medication for to go along with it. I am trying to look at this as a waiting game.

[Ebonni Owens 6]

You know on some of their policys, Cigna only requires a 3-6 month supervised weight program. I Dr's only required I do 3 and they are submitting next week. I hope all goes well. I do not know if this will make a difference.

[MrzSongbird 53]

Cigna took 6 days to approve my surgery. i called everyday after it was submitted.

[Ebonni Owens 6]

The doctors just sent my paper work to Cigna this morning. I am crossing my fingers that I am lucky enough to get a 6 day turn around.

[kmoore 97]

I'm on day 27...or 20 business days out. Insurance coordinator told me there was 61 pages sent. So I guess it takes a team of employees to look at 2 pages a day. No wonder healthcare is so expensive! Lol

And when a patient wants something from the office I work at, we are to have no more than a 24 hour turn around time!!!! Geez!

[Ready4success 380]

I'm on day 27...or 20 business days out. Insurance coordinator told me there was 61 pages sent. So I guess it takes a team of employees to look at 2 pages a day. No wonder healthcare is so expensive! Lol

And when a patient wants something from the office I work at' date=' we are to have no more than a 24 hour turn around time!!!! Geez![/quote']

I really think you should call Cigna. Ask if your paperwork was received and if a determination was made. I called and found out I had been approved and told my surgeon's office, they had no clue. Also, the official letter doesn't come in the mail until a week later.

[mel2643 68]

I was just approved by Cigna , Initially my paperwork was submitted on August 17th ... Then I received a letter in the mail stating they were missing the medical necessity information ... I then contacted the cordinator on 8/23 and no response I again contacted her on 8/30 where she confirmed she sent the missing info ... Called today and it was approved ... So from when they receive the complete info it took 7 days ... Now I had a date of the 17th and now that might change due to when the approval was received ( 2 week pre op diet ) so well see but the approval process is done .....

[kmoore 97]

I really think you should call Cigna. Ask if your paperwork was received and if a determination was made. I called and found out I had been approved and told my surgeon's office, they had no clue. Also, the official letter doesn't come in the mail until a week later.

I did. Was told their policy is 25- 30 business days. That was all the info they would give. Going to call again today. And again Monday, and again Tuesday...lol

[AliciaA122 24]

Cigna is THE WORST. I was approved Tuesday, but only after my surgeon's insurance coordinator sent my information twice. The first time she sent it (8/17) they combined all new information (new doctor, hospital, everything) into a denied file with my previous surgeon (who quit unexpectedly.)

So, the coordinator had to call them and have them set up a new case and send everything in again.

They also told me they send that medical necessity letter out almost all the time. If a case is built and the clinicals are not entered at the same, exact moment, then that letter is auto-generated. So, don't get too upset if you get one, doesn't mean that something is necessarily missing or wrong.

My advice for Cigna is to stay on top of them AND your surgeon's office. You really have to, or they will misplace your information.

[Pumpkinmeli 15]

I have been in a nightmare with Cigna for weeks now. Since August 23rd to be exact. My surgeon sent over 36 pages of documents to Cigna for approval. Including all clearances from doctors, weight check ins for 6 months, reccomendations for surgery from multiple doctors. I get a letter of denial saying they need more information to prove medical nessescity. We discovered that they didnt recieve the fax with 36 pages... so they re-sent. Then on August 31st I get another denial saying they needed a letter from my dietician, a letter showing proof of a BMI over 40 for 12 months and a letter from a physician approving the need for surgery (which they ALREADY had). My surgeons office RE SENT for the 3rd time marking it URGENT. I called this morning as it had been 48 hours since they recieved the fax marked urgent. They said that it would take 5 business days before they would do a reconsideration plus 48 hours to return an answer. I am 13 days from surgery and still have 2 pre-op appoinments that they wont schedule until I get approved. There just isnt enough time. I cant move my surgery date since my boyfriend can only take off certain days because of they type of job he has. Plus I have a wedding in October to go to... and have to be feeling good enough to go... at this rate they would have to push back my surgery to the end of October which doesnt work for my work schedule. I am disgusted with Cigna. Luckily I work for Human Resources and my boss happens to be the director of benefits. I had my surgeon fax over all 36 pages to me and I have given them to my boss... she is calling our Cigna rep and is going to go above the medical directors head to try and get this approved today. PLEASE pray for me... I cant take another denial. I am running out of steam and I am SO stressed. Good thing all I can eat is Protein shakes... I dont think I could keep anything else down.

[AliciaA122 24]

Oh pumpkin, I totally understand! They are seriously a nightmare to deal with. I hate that it's out of our control, we just have to wait on them. But, you're doing right, just keep calling them and pestering them. It's ludicrous how they act and it is so emotionally draining.

Hoping you get some good news and soon. Vent to me if you need to!