Poll: insurance acceptance/denial

[bangbangbarbie 52]

How did your insurance respond? It would be extra valuable if you provided any additional information about yourself: starting weight, comorbiditis, what they made you provide, etc.

Acceptance, no questions asked.

Acceptance, if you provide certain information.

Denial, but with ability to appeal. Acceptance following appeal.

Denial, with no ability to appeal, or you did and it did not work.

Edited January 8, 2015 by bangbangbarbie

[anaxila 501]

My starting weight was 300, comorbidities include sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

My insurance submission included 6 months of documented physician-supervised weight loss (during which I lost nothing at all), summary of psych eval, 5 years of weight history, lab results, surgeon's recommendation, and letter of support from my primary doc.

Insurance accepted on the first pass, no questions asked.

Hope this helps!

[mami2two 1]

I have BCBS FL and my insurance shot me down from the start. I spoke with Customer Service, HR at my work, and our rep from BCBS and it all comes down to, if this surgery was the only thing that could save me from death.... they would still deny me. I was told I could appeal it but my rep has never seen someone get approved since they recently changed to the NO EXCEPTION rule.

[whiterabbit 2]

Acceptance, if you provide certain information.

I have Group Health through Microsoft and they wanted to know what other things I have tried and for how long. My starting weight was 335, I have lost 21 on my own while trying out the diet I am going to be living on for the rest of my life. It has been a struggle but I am getting there. My comorbidities are sleep apnea, high blood pressure, herniated disks in my back, and asthma.

I put in my application and in two weeks was approve. I had to wait for a month for my pre-op packet to come in the mail. I had blood labs, a mental health eval, x-rays, a mammogram, respiratory appointments I had to do before I could get on the list. I did them all in one day a week later. I have been to the mandatory support group and next I will be meeting with the dietitian for a diet review. After all of that it is surgery time.

[newlanashegog 61]

No question. I was immediately approved.

[June2014 1]

I have Kaiser Permanente and it was approved first time around. They did have a year of data with nutrition, psyc, sleep study, blood tests, classes, etc.

[Annek2014 58]

Acceptance, no questions asked.

[Idonerds 136]

Approved with no questions...

[jillstl 55]

Denied. Written exclusion for all WLS. Employer didn't purchase the rider. :-[

[ktbbailey77 3]

accepted first try no questions asked

[WendyMay 13]

I was told by my insurance that if it is medically necessary (which it is), they will cover it.

[Mommabird 367]

I was 248. Aetna makes you have 6 months of weight loss monitored by a doctor who has to ask about your diet and exercise. I was approved within hours of my paperwork arriving.

[Djmohr 6,965]

I was 310lbs, a type 2 diabetic, sleep apnea, high blood pressure

I had to follow a six month physician monitored program. I had to work with a Bariatric Center of Exellence.

My paperwork was submitted and within 48 hours I had both verbal and written approval.

My insurance was Medica.

[moyebrady 33]

Denied....Insurance UHC...Community Care. Also I have Medicare approved immediately. Surgery date set 2/24/15

[lynette85 38]

Uhc cc approved